Ranchi: The Jharkhand chapter of the National Health Mission (NHM) has directed all medical colleges, hospitals and other healthcare centres across the state to conduct fire safety audits within a week, prepare reports and rectify any shortcomings, if found.NHM on Saturday conducted a state-level orientation workshop on heat wave and fire safety week under the National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCH), and directed the authorities of all medical colleges, hospitals in the state, and civil surgeons of all districts, to conduct fire safety audits immediately.NHM director Shashi Prakash Jha on Sunday told TOI that the directions were issued to take stock of all fire safety equipment present in healthcare centres across the state, whether they are updated and in working condition or not, and to prevent any kind of possible mishap jeopardising patients’ safety.“Under the initiative, hospitals admitting patients are the focus as they are more vulnerable if any fire incident takes place, unlike any daycare centres. Jharkhand has around 50 govt hospitals. The department has buckled up to ensure the safety of hundreds of patients admitted to these hospitals,” Jha added.The NHM also directed all healthcare centres across the state to observe fire safety week, from May 4 to 10, and conduct awareness drives among the hospital staff for fire management.“Although all hospitals in the state already have conventional fire safety management equipment in place, they have been directed to procure fire-resistant blankets to extinguish the flames. Also, all hospitals have been directed to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the fire department and to strictly adhere to electrical safety standards,” Jha added.Ranchi civil surgeon Dr Prabhat Kumar said that following the webinar on Saturday, they have started the fire safety audit at the hospital. “All electrical connections in the hospital will be checked along with fire management equipment during the audit, as faulty electrical connections often lead to disastrous fire incidents,” he added.
