KARACHI: The Aga Khan University (AKU) Centre of Excellence for Trauma and Emergencies (CETE), in collaboration with the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), recently held a stakeholder meeting as part of its ‘Heat Emergency Awareness and Treatment’ project.
Funded by Elrha, the project aims to combat the increasing threat of extreme heat in Pakistan through public awareness, exposure treatment strategies, and the creation of a comprehensive Heat Plan.
The meeting, attended by government officials including assistant commissioners, additional deputy commissioners, and district health officers from across Sindh, underscored the urgency of a coordinated response to heatwaves.
It was also attended by Dr. Sardar Sarfaraz, Chief Meteorologist of the Pakistan Meteorological Department; Imdad Hussain Siddiqui, PDMA Director of Operations; and representatives from Rescue 1122 and Sindh Integrated Emergency and Health Services.
Dr. Junaid Razzak, Director of CETE, emphasized the growing public health crisis posed by vextreme heat and stressed the need for cities to develop clear action plans. "We look forward to collaborating with PDMA and other partners to create effective heatwave management strategies," he said.
The meeting evolved a consensus on strengthening the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), improving inter-district coordination, and launching a communication campaign involving both government and non-profit organizations.
All stakeholders agreed to hold regular meetings to tackle this issue and were on board with regard to the development of a Heatwave Management Plan for adversely affected districts of Sindh.
On the occasion, Dr. Sarfaraz said, "We need to understand the phenomenon of heatwaves and how they are generated. It's not only the daytime temperature that triggers a heatwave alert; heatwaves are complex events influenced by various factors. Comprehensive understanding and monitoring of these elements are crucial for effective heatwave management and timely alerts."
Imdad Hussain Siddiqui appreciated the AKU for gathering different stakeholders under one roof on a very important topic, stressing to continue the process.
As part of the project, an animated awareness video on heat emergencies and their management made by CETE is being disseminated via social media channels to raise awareness on the issue.
