Daily Times

Sir: This year’s terrible heat spell has affected almost every citizen of this country, yet the government has still taken no preventive measures in order to protect the people from this harmful weather. According to the details released by the state, temperatures ranged from 37 to 50 degrees Celsius in Sindh, with its lower belt suffering through relatively higher temperatures. The highest temperature recorded came from Nawabshah or Shaheed Benazirabad as it is known now, with the mercury reaching 50.2 degrees Celsius in the first week of May.

According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority’s (PDMA) Sindh chapter, this kind of weather can lead to heatstroke, and people may also suffer from headaches, dizziness, intense thirst, nausea and vomiting, muscle weakness or cramps, red eyes, dry skin and even lose consciousness in some cases.

Some people are more susceptible to such reactions than others, with old, very young, sick, and overweight people more prone to such reactions. In addition, stagnant atmospheric conditions and poor air quality can also induce heat-related illnesses, which is why people living in urban areas may be at greater risk in extreme heat then those living in rural areas.

While all of these problems have affected countless people across our country, the government still has not introduced any preventive measures to contain the situation. They can start by promoting basic methods that can be used by the public to avoid the detrimental effects of this heat wave.

Drinking plenty of water, even if you’re not feeling thirsty is a good beginning, while eating light and regular meals is a good option as well. Additionally, you can postpone any outdoor games and activities you might have planned, and minimize your exposure to the sun.

Make sure you never leave children or pets alone in a closed vehicle, wear loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothes which cover as much skin as possible and protect your face and head by wearing scarves, wide-brimmed hats or by applying sun block. These simple methods can be advertised through the many channels of communication we have available to us, like TV, print news, radio, social media and text campaigns and even through word of mouth.

On the other hand, instead of the government, a consortium of International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs) has taken the initiative to spread this message across the country, especially in Sindh which the heat wave has affected quite severely. These organisations include ACTED, ACF, Trocaire, and Muslim Aid among others which have initiated campaigns through local Radio, local cable channels as well by pasting banners at various public places to disseminate knowledge of heatstroke among the people. However, most of these campaigns are localised to certain areas of the province and they need to be expended to the entire country, in order to help as many people as possible.

I request all the relevant authorities concerned (government and non-governmental organization both) to kindly work together to expand work on heatstroke awareness and teach people about its various methods of prevention.

SHAHID AHMED QURESHI

Badin

Published in Daily Times, June 20^th 2018.