Staff Correspondent

Generating awareness among the public in general, particularly children and aged people, can be a crucial means of preventing heat-related illness.

Many people, including children, adolescents and the aged, are being attacked with dehydration due to the ongoing heat wave at present. Some of them are reportedly dead due to heat stroke.

Medical practitioners and health experts came up with the observation while addressing a scientific seminar on heat-related illness caused by the present heat wave.

Rajshahi Medical College (RMC) organised the seminar at its conference hall supported by the society of medicine on Thursday discussing and devising ways and means on how to prevent the illness through generating mass-awareness.

During his keynote presentation, Dr Mahbubur Rahman, general secretary of RMC Teachers Association (RMCTA), talked about the causes of heat-related illness and prevention.

RMC Principal Prof Dr Nawshad Ali addressed the seminar as the chief guest while RMCTA President Dr Hafizur Rahman spoke as special guest with local unit president of Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad Dr Khalilur Rahman in the chair.

Head of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics Dr Rokeya Khatun, Head of the Department of Medicine Dr Hassan Tarique and Head of the Department of Pediatrics Dr Shahida Yeasmin also spoke, disseminating their expertise on the issue.

The seminar was told that movement outside of the home without necessity and if necessary use of umbrellas, taking bath regularly, intake of sufficient water and saline water and special care for the babies should be maintained to prevent heat-related illness.