New Delhi: Amid worsening air quality in several States and UTs across the country, the Health Ministry on Monday urged State Health Departments and healthcare facilities to enhance their preparedness, stating that air pollution has recently become a serious health challenge, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) in certain States/UTs reaching moderate to poor levels.
In a recent advisory, the Ministry highlighted that the adverse effects of rising air pollution are particularly severe for vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant women, the elderly, individuals with pre-existing health conditions, and those who face higher exposure risks due to their occupations, such as traffic police officers and municipal workers.
The Ministry advised individuals to minimise their exposure to polluted air by monitoring air quality indices through government mobile applications before venturing outdoors, avoiding heavily congested areas, and opting for cleaner fuels at home for cooking, heating, and lighting.
It also highlighted the need for people to limit outdoor activities, such as sports and exercise, especially for vulnerable populations like the elderly, pregnant women, and those with pre-existing conditions such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
“Those experiencing worsening symptoms or discomfort due to poor air quality should seek immediate medical attention,” the Ministry said.
“As you may be aware, air pollution has recently become a serious health challenge, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) in certain States/UTs reaching moderate to poor levels. This may worsen, considering the upcoming festive season and the onset of winter,” the statement read.
Citing that air pollution is a significant contributor to acute health conditions and exacerbates the progression of chronic diseases affecting the respiratory, cardiovascular, and cerebrovascular systems, the Ministry underlined, “These chronic illnesses, attributed to prolonged exposure to air pollution, often lead to an increase in premature mortality.”
The Ministry further urged State Health Departments and healthcare facilities to intensify public awareness campaigns, disseminating targeted messaging through designated mass media channels in regional languages, strengthening the capacity of the healthcare workforce, and scaling up participation in sentinel surveillance systems for air pollution-related diseases under the National Program on Climate Change and Human Health.
At this critical time, raising public awareness about actions to prevent further degradation of air quality is vital, the Ministry said, adding, “These include discouraging stubble and waste burning, reducing firecrackers during festivities, promoting public transportation over personal diesel- or petrol-powered vehicles, limiting reliance on diesel-based generators, and curbing smoking.”
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