Kolkata :- A comprehensive health advisory ratified by leading Doctors and Health Practitioners from across West Bengal was issued at a press conference organised by the SwitchON Foundation in association with ‘Doctors for Clean Air’ (DFCA) forum at the press club.
The health advisory provides numerous ways in which citizens can prevent impact from air pollution. It laids out various preventive measures and practices that should be adopted in everyday life by citizens to better prepare from the onslaught of polluted winter days. The advisory comes at a time when citizens are already stressed with the probable risk of another COVID-19 wave across the country. With earlier findings suggesting a significant correlation between district level air pollution data and COVID-19 cases.
Dr. Suman Mallik from NH Narayana Superspeciality hospital attending the press conference on behalf of the panel stated – “We all need to do our part to keep everyone healthy. Doctors across the world have been warning about the potential risk to human health posed by air pollution, but it has been underestimated until now. However, tackling it could be the greatest health opportunity for the Govt. Health Reform Programme, as well as providing direct co-benefit to human health for an entire generation to come.”
Also attending the Press Conference Dr Arup Halder, Consultant Pulmonologist, Woodlands Multispeciality Hospitals stated: “In terms of deaths, India ranks first globally related to Asthma deaths and second related to COPD deaths. Though in other countries COPD is known as a disease of the smokers, in India we see the majority of ‘non-smoking COPD’. So in our country the major risk factors for COPD are – ambient air pollution, household air pollution and occupational air pollution.”
Dr. Arvind Kuamar – Founder Trustee Lung Care Foundation, through a video message has stated: “It’s actually a Pan India problem today and it starts showing its ill effects even before we are born, when the child is in mothers womb, that is when air pollution starts having its effect – It affects us from the very first breath of life !”
The event held coincides with the National Pollution Control Day, which is observed on December 2 every year in memory of those who suffered and lost their lives in the horrific 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy. This year marks the 37th anniversary of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. It is observed as a reminder to all of the extent of damage environmental degradation like air pollution can have on human life. The chronic exposure to air pollution has large similarities with the fateful incident which occurred due to the accidental discharge of the toxic chemical gas methyl isocyanate and other toxic gases from the Union Carbide chemical plant in Bhopal on the night of December 2, 1984.
Dr Kaushik Chaki , Executive Committee Member, West Bengal Doctors Forum attending the event stated: “Children face special risks from air pollution because their lungs are growing” He further added by saying “Industrial workers have been facing many health related issues like pneumoconiosis, asbestosis, silicosis apart from mental health related issues and many other occupational health issues. These groups must be taken care of with adequate and appropriate prevention measures as well as post exposure care and support.”