Dubai heat alert: Indian doctors launch summer drive to protect workers from heatstroke

Dubai: The Association of Kerala Medical and Dental Graduates (AKMG) Emirates, in collaboration with the Consulate General of India in Dubai, has launched ‘Beat the Heat’ initiative – a heat stroke awareness campaign for blue-collar workers.

AKMG Emirates is a non-profit network of healthcare professionals from India’s Kerala practicing in the UAE. Its flagship summer community initiative, which will run for the next three months across seven emirates, was launched at a workers’ accommodation in Dubai Investments Park (DIP). It was inaugurated by Pabitra Kumar Majumder Consul (Consular, Labour and Madad), and presided over by Dr Sughu Malayil Koshy, President of AKMG Emirates.

Dr Koshy highlighted AKMG’s long-standing commitment to address community healthcare needs.
“With soaring temperatures, heat stroke awareness is both relevant and necessary.”

The campaign materials are available in multiple languages, including Arabic, Hindi, English, Malayalam, Tamil, and Kannada, to cater to Dubai’s diverse and multilingual workforce.

The launch programme began with a yoga session and included an interactive segment on the Pravasi Bharatiya Seva Kendra (PBSK) – an Indian Government initiative focused on the welfare and protection of overseas Indian communities, especially migrant workers. The campaign includes hands-on engagement, on-the-spot counselling, educational talks, and multilingual awareness sessions conducted by a panel of doctors from various specialties. Volunteers and their families are also actively involved in the campaign.

The drive focuses on empowering workers with practical knowledge to prevent and respond to heat-related illnesses. It stresses the early recognition of symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke, the importance of staying hydrated, taking adequate rest, wearing appropriate cooling clothing, and using sunscreen for skin protection. Peer observation and prompt reporting of symptoms are encouraged, and the campaign includes basic first aid training for quick emergency response.

Dr Archana Nair, Social Service Convener, Dubai, led the heatstroke awareness session, highlighting the serious risks posed by extreme heat to outdoor workers during the intense summer months. She noted that the initiative aims to instil a deeper understanding among children about the lives of blue-collar workers.

“By involving them in this campaign, we hope to nurture empathy, respect, and social responsibility from a young age.”

Dr Nita Salam (Chair), Dr Pankajam Indrajit (Convener), and Dr Naeem Moideen (Finance Convener) confirmed that the campaign will continue until mid-September. The initiative will reach multiple labour accommodations and work sites across the UAE, offering practical guidance and promoting safer work environments.

The launch was attended by Vice Consul Deepak Dagar and senior office bearers of AKMG Emirates, including Dr Nirmala Raghunathan (Immediate Past President), Arif Kandoth (Vice President), Dr Feroz Gaffoor (Secretary General), Dr Jamaludeen Abubacker (Treasurer), Dr Fathima Faiz (Social Services Co-convener), and Ahmed Abdulla Murad, Manager of Public Relations at Proscape.