Paper: GS – II & III, Subject: Governance, Environment, Topic: Health and Climate Change, Issue: Building Heat-Resilient Public Health Systems in India.
Context:
A national conference on climate and health underscored the need to shift from reactive emergency care to a preventive and equity-driven public health model to tackle heat-related challenges.
Key Highlights:
Government’s Approach:
- Preventive Primary Care Focus: Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and local health workers trained as heat-safety champions.
- Community Integration: Use of tech-enabled communication (e.g., WhatsApp alerts), hydration kit distribution, and door-to-door awareness.
Health System Strengthening:
- Clinical Protocols: Need for uniform protocols to diagnose and treat heat illnesses. Initiatives like heat corners, pre-stocking cooling kits, and post-discharge follow-ups recommended.
- Proactive Measures: Clinicians must anticipate heat impacts on vulnerable populations and integrate prevention into routine care.
Multi-sectoral Coordination:
- Holistic Interventions: Coordinated actions by departments like housing, labour, water, and urban development to build sustainable heat resilience.
- Role of Science and Civil Society: Emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration — meteorology, public health, grassroots participation.
Equity and Vulnerability Focus:
- At-Risk Populations: Informal workers, children, elderly, and urban poor are the most affected.
- Socio-Economic Interventions: Heat shelters, mobile hydration units, safety measures for outdoor workers, and early alerts are critical.
Developmental Vision:
- From Emergency to Equity: Embed climate resilience into public health via data-driven, co-designed, locally grounded interventions.
- Institutional Reforms: Creation of centres of excellence and inclusive networks to shape climate-smart, resilient cities.
Conclusion:
India must lead in embedding heat resilience across health systems with a shift from reactive to preventive, inclusive governance. Climate-resilient public health is not just about survival — it’s about equity, dignity, and sustainable development in a warming world.
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