Minister finalizes summer action plan

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

State Health, Medical and Family Welfare Minister Satya Kumar Yadav on Saturday announced that proactive measures have been put in place in line with rising temperature forecasts. The plan was discussed in detail during a high-level meeting with senior officials, including Health and Family Welfare Secretary Saurabh Gaur, Family Welfare Commissioner Veera Pandian, Director of Secondary Health Dr. Chakradhar Babu, Food Safety Director Neelakantha Reddy, and other department heads. 

The minister emphasized early warnings, public awareness, medical preparedness, and inter-departmental coordination to minimize risks during the peak summer period, which could extend through June. Through the AWaRe (Advance Warning Advisory for Resilient Ecosystem) digital platform, integrated with weather data from meteorological centers, alerts are issued 4–5 days in advance for regions expecting high heat intensity. District collectors and officials receive this information to enable timely actions. Historical data and seasonal disease monitoring are also used for mapping vulnerable districts and mandals.

Efforts focus on educating the public about precautions, especially for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, the elderly, infants, construction workers, granite and NREGA laborers, traffic police, and others exposed to heat. 

All sub-health centers, PHCs, and higher facilities are equipped to provide initial treatment for heatstroke cases. Severe cases will be transferred via 108 ambulances to advanced hospitals. The Minister stated that these coordinated efforts, drawing on central guidelines and real-time tools, aim to ensure prompt response, reduce vulnerability, and keep the public safe amid escalating summer temperatures.