Medical body calls for steps to tackle pollution

Number of patients with respiratory diseases on the rise, find studies

Kochi _ Kerala, 12/04/13. Scorching summer heat has already made commuting in the city a hard task, but it is worse for traffic personnel manning the post. Dust and heat is posing hazards for these men. Seen here is a traffic warden on duty at Edappally. Photo: H.Vibhu.

It is high time that the city took steps to control air pollution for soon masks may become a regular accessory that people have to wear when they step out of their homes.

The warning comes from the Academy of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (APCCM) that had recently coordinated talks between various government agencies and non-governmental organisations to present a document to the District Collector.

There are over 65 lakh people in the country affected by respiratory diseases. Of these, studies have pointed out that about 25% of deaths in the country are happening because of health problems created by air pollution, according to pulmonologist Ramesh Nair, the president of APCCM. Children were the most affected by the health hazards of pollution, he said.

Studies pointed out that the number of patients in hospitals with respiratory diseases had gone up, he said. “Society needs to know how badly polluted the atmosphere is,” he added.

Air pollution monitors were required for people to know the kind of environment that prevailed around them, he said. The Academy had procured three such machines. One machine each was handed over to Hibi Eden, MLA, and District Collector K. Mohammed Y. Safirullah. Another one will be handed over to Mayor Soumini Jain.

APCCM’s initiative to take up a study on how pollution affects health had resulted in the formation of the platform, Kochi Fights Air Pollution ’18 (KFAP ’18), that will provide guidance and details on pollution control activities to the implementing agencies. The idea was to bring many stakeholders together, said Dr. Nair.

The Kochi Corporation, police, residents’ associations, district administration, Kochi metro, Indian Medical Association, Kochi, and individuals such as former MP P. Rajeev who had taken up a slew of healthcare activities during his term were part of the seminar conducted earlier from which a document was evolved to present to the District Collector.

The air pollution monitors will provide data to the government agencies, based on which the government can form strategies.