Telangana issues health advisory over El Nino risks
The state health department has warned of potential water-borne diseases and heat-related illnesses due to extreme heat and water shortages.
The Telangana health department issued a public health advisory on Tuesday, November 3, regarding risks linked to El Nino conditions, according to The Hindu.
Director of Public Health and Family Welfare Dr. B. Ravinder Nayak said changing climatic conditions, including prolonged dry spells and acute water shortages, could increase risks of malnutrition, mental stress, heat-related illnesses and water-borne diseases.
To prevent illness, the advisory suggests boiling drinking water for at least one minute, using filters, or using chlorine tablets. It also recommends storing water in clean, covered containers and using a ladle to draw water rather than dipping hands into it.
The department advised avoiding drinking from surface water bodies, tankers or unregulated wells without purification. People should also consume seasonal fruits and vegetables with high water content, such as melons, cucumbers, oranges and gourds.
To manage heat, the advisory recommends drinking sufficient water, Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS), buttermilk with salt or homemade lemon water. It suggests wearing loose, light-coloured cotton clothes and avoiding strenuous outdoor work between noon and 3 p.m.
The government has arranged for essential medicines, intravenous fluids and special beds at public health facilities. ORS sachets have been provided to Anganwadi workers, Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) to manage emergencies.