Mumbai, February 18 Senior clinical scientist Soumya Swaminathan emphasized on Wednesday the urgent need for much better data on illnesses and deaths related to heat, warning that current figures only represent "the tip of the iceberg."
Speaking at the Mumbai Climate Week, Swaminathan — former Deputy Director-General of the World Health Organisation — said that heat-related illnesses are closely linked to cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, and metabolic disorders. These risks are further compounded by dehydration and lack of access to safe drinking water.
Age is another factor, along with other underlying ailments like diabetes, hypertension, and even working conditions, she said.
"We need much better data on heat-related illnesses and deaths, which are still only the tip of the iceberg. Only a small number is known."
"We need much more granular and specific data on people in different occupations, different ages, genders, and living conditions," said the former director-general of the Indian Council of Medical Research.
Swaminathan said that the data should not be viewed in isolation.
She suggested that health data can be overlaid with climate data and other types of data for a better understanding. Satellite imagery and the Global Information System (GIS) can also be used while studying heat-related illnesses and deaths.
"We can make much better associations (with the data). This fine data is also needed for the right policy interventions. Even the policy on heat-related illnesses has to evolve. It cannot be static," she added.
Capacity building is necessary at the local level regarding the health infrastructure, she further said.