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Public Health System

Mapping Vulnerability and Estimating Thresholds of Heat-Related Health Risks in Five Towns of Odisha

Ongoing | March 2026- Present

About

A 30-month, ICMR-funded mixed-methods study to assess heat vulnerability, identify city-specific heat thresholds, and inform localised heat action plans for climate-resilient public health.
Schedule
  • Duration: 30 Months
  • Geography: Five towns of Odisha
  • Funder: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi.
  • Partners: KIIT Deemed to be University (KIIT-DU)
  • Delivery Model: Mixed-methods, three-phase study culminating in a composite Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI)
Heat waves have emerged as a critical public health challenge in the context of climate change. Rising temperatures, longer hot seasons, and more frequent extreme-heat events are placing growing pressure on communities, livelihoods, and public health systems – especially in Odisha where adaptive infrastructure and locally calibrated health responses need evidence-based solutions.

However, gaps in evidence reduce the capacity of health systems to implement timely, effective responses and leave vulnerable populations exposed to preventable risks. This study examines challenges in five under-researched towns of Odisha, combining household-level vulnerability assessments, community-level adaptation insights, and retrospective health data to produce decision-ready evidence for state and district administration.
Primary Objectives
  • Undertake heat-related vulnerability assessments in the five study towns.
  • Explore community adaptation mechanisms and system-level responses to coping with heat stress.
  • Determine city-specific temperature thresholds for heat-related health hazards using retrospective data.

Secondary Objective
  • Provide policy recommendations for localised heat action plans, grounded in empirical findings.
Phase Focus
Formative Phase Baseline on heat-vulnerability assessments at household and community level
Implementation Phase Investigation of drivers and barriers to adaptation
End-line Evaluation & Dissemination Secondary data analysis + integration of Phase I & II findings to develop a composite Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI); validation through stakeholder consultations and co-design workshops with NHM Odisha, OSDMA, and Urban Local Bodies
Principal Investigator:
Prof. (Dr.) Bhuputra Panda, Professor, KIIT-DU & Senior Advisor, ACCESS Health International

Co-Principal Investigators:
  • Dr. N. Krishna Reddy, CEO, ACCESS Health International & President, InOrder – The Health Systems Institute
  • Prof. (Dr.) Saranjit Singh, Vice-Chancellor, KIIT Deemed to be University (KIIT-DU)
The project is designed to generate the following key deliverables and strategic frameworks for the region:
  • A composite Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI) for the five study towns.
  • A state-level heat vulnerability atlas for Odisha.
  • District-specific heat-health action frameworks.
  • Policy briefs to guide sustainable heat-adaptation strategies and contribute to building climate-resilient public health systems in Odisha.