Daily Times

KARACHI: In connection with the preparations of much anticipated heat wave in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city with estimated population of 24 million people, authorities have allocated bed space for 12,752 persons in major hospitals, official document said.

As per arrangements by the Sindh government along with commissioner of Karachi for possible heat wave emergency, the administration has allocated 1,882 beds in major hospitals, which shows one bed for 12,752 patients according to the population of city.

The technical report on Karachi heat wave for June 2015 of the Ministry of Climate Change government of Pakistan confirms that the heat wave in Karachi during June 17-24 last year swallowed more than 1,200 lives including women and children.

According to official record, more than 16,000 heat wave patients were hospitalised in two major hospitals of the city, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) and Civil Hospital (CHK) during 2015 heat incidents whereas, the estimated number of patients who were hospitalised in city’s hospitals was much bigger. Unnumbered could not reach the hospitals on time and brought dead in hospitals.

Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and Sindh Health Department, who came under criticism for responding poor and failing to address public sufferings. In reply, PPP leadership held the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) federal government and load shedding responsible for loss of human lives.

However, this year, authorities limited to 1,882 beds in six districts of the city under the tag of Tertiary Referral Centres (TRC). As per plan, TRCs which consist of 54 major hospitals each with 27 government and private hospitals, 17 belong to East district, six in West, seven in South, seven in Central, five in Malir and 11 in Korangi district.

JPMC focal person Dr Jawaid Akhtar Jamali while talking to Daily Times said, “This year JMPC has arranged 250 beds for heatstroke patients in air-conditioned rooms.”

He said, “We could stretch 500 to 1,000 beds in case of emergency and make shift arrangement could be availed at Outpatient Department (OPD).

On the other hand, CHK has drawn ‘Emergency Contingency Plan for Heat Wave Patients 2016, and out of total bed strength of 1,750, indoor admission beds available for heat affected patients are 80. Besides that 30 patients could also be admitted at Benazir Bhutto Trauma Centre.

CHK Additional Medical Superintendent (General) Dr Abdul Qadir said, “We are upgrading the system including air-conditioners. The contingency plan would be functional if heat wave warning is issued. If needed, we could modify other departments for this requirement.”

According to CHK plan, Civil Hospital has divided heatstroke patients into different categories and ‘learning from the last year’s lessons’ CHK has introduced different colours.

CHK plan states, “The red coloured tag will elucidate heatstroke patients with co-morbidities. Yellow will show patients with severe heatstroke and Green tag will indicate patients with mild heatstroke while the black tag will be the sign of a dead.”

Apart from TRCs, facilities also include establishing of 180 First Response Centres (FRC) and 100 to 200 Sabeel and Side Road Facilitation Centre (SFC) in six districts.

Pakistan Meteorological Department, which is responsible for providing metrological services throughout the country, said that there is no chance of last year’s intensity of heat wave this year in June in the city.

The National Weather Forecasting Centre Director General Dr Muhammad Hanif while taking to Daily Times said, “For Karachi in June, there would be no heat wave with same intensity as it faced in 2015. Heat wave could only be forecasted a week earlier. However, in the coming days, parts of Sindh and Balochistan could face moderate intensity of heat. Karachi could bear temperature between 35 degrees centigrade and 37 degrees centigrade.”

Last June, Metrological Department had been criticised for failing to forecast the calamity and issuing any warnings.

A public health physician Dr Suleman Otho said, “Heat stroke specific high dependency wards should be made available in case of any emergency.”

He said, “End stage management regarding how to treat heat wave stroke should also be improved in physicians, paramedics and related staff. The Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) template should be inscribed at relevant places to help out medical staff.”