Health and Family Welfare Minister Professor Dr Samanta Lal Sen today directed authorities concerned of the public hospitals to remain ready for extending healthcare services to people as the country is under the grip of severe heatwave. "Elderly people and children are the most vulnerable due to the ongoing heatwave . . . I am urging the people, particularly old-age and children to stay indoors to avoid heatstroke and other heatwave related complications," he told a press conference virtually at his ministry, an official release said today. State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Rokeya Sultana and Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Prof Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam, among others, were present on the occasion. The health minister said extreme heatwave has put the country into catastrophic position and authorities of public hospitals already have been asked to keep ready for extending treatment services to the people. "Considering health risk of schooling going children, I talked to the education minister to shut educational institutions. Under the directive of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, schools and colleges will remain closed till April 27," he added. The public hospitals including Shishu hospital have been directed to keep special measures for children, Samanta said, adding dedicated beds have been kept at the Dhaka North City Corporation Hospitals for elderly people and children. Latest News Most View Awami League joint meeting to be held tomorrow Khaleda Zia's appearance in 11 cases on July 29 Very severe heat wave sweeping over country's different parts Relocation of war expenditure could ensure better world environment: PM PM opens NAP Expo-2024 Bellingham snatches Madrid dramatic Clasico win over Barcelona Atalanta continue Champions League bid with Monza win Ruud defeats Tsitsipas to win 'biggest title' in Barcelona Qatar Amir arrives this evening Chapman leads New Zealand to shock win over Pakistan in third T20 Markets bounce as MidEas t fears ease, US inflation in view 11 missing in Guangdong rainstorm Turkey's Erdogan in rare Iraq visit to discuss water, oil, security 6 held for taking, selling drugs in Chapainawabganj Serb majority in N.Kosovo shuns vote on ethnic Albanian mayors Portugal poised to celebrate 50 years of democracy N.Macedonia chooses president in election warm-up US hints at sanctioning Israeli unit over alleged abuses Biden denounces campus anti-Semitism amid tensions over student protests 11 missing, tens of thousands evacuated as storms strike south China All Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha