On the occasion of United Nations’ 1st International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
Doctors For Clean Air Conclave was held wherein, over 2000 Doctors Said that Air Pollution is hazardous to health and requested Governments to Prioritize Health of Citizens by Ensuring Clean Air as We Recover From COVID-19 .
New Delhi, India:Doctors for Clean Air, a pan-India network of doctors advocating for clean air, held a first of its kind full-day Conclave by doctors and for doctors on Air Pollution on the occasion of the first “International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies.” The virtual event was organized jointly by seven national medical associations, which recognize the importance of clean air for human health and represent over 130,000 Doctors: Federation of Obstetric & Gynaecological Society of India (FOGSI), Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP), Indian Chest Society (ICS), Cardiological Society of India (CSI), Indian Academy of Neurology (IAN) supported by Association of Surgeons of India (ASI) and Medical Students Association of India (MSAI). In the conclave, Doctors discussed “Health Impacts of Air Pollution on Pregnant Woman & New Born, Children, Heart, Lungs, and Brain. The conclave also discussed the role of doctors in advocating for cleanair.”
Dr. Bakul Parekh, President, Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) in his address has said that “Air pollution leading to lower IQ, stunted growth, lower physical growth, increased obesity. Heath professionals must come together to address air pollution as a priority for collective concerted action. For the millions of children exposed to breathing polluted air there is little time to waste and so much to gain from CleanAir.”
Presidents of 7 specialty national medical associations, representing over 130,000 Doctors, shared research linking air pollution and health and asked fellow medical professionals to take the lead to advocate for clean air and ask citizens and policymakers to ensure Clean Air for All for a healthy and productiveIndia.
Air Pollution causes over 7 million premature deaths across the world, with 1.2 million people in India alone. Long term exposure to indoor and ambient (outdoor) air pollution in the country is found to be linked to nearly 5 million deaths from non-communicable diseases like stroke, diabetes, heart attack, lung cancer, chronic lung diseases. (State of Global Air 2019 published by Health Effects Institute). Recent research evidence from across the world also suggests a strong link between air pollution and COVID-19 communicable disease. A study conducted by Harvard University in the United States1 highlighted that every one µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 is associated with an 8% increase in the COVID-19deathrate.Peoplelivinginpollutedareas are found more vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection. A strong correlation2was observed between the increased concentration of PM2.5, Carbon monoxide (CO), Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) & higher mortality rates in Italy & theUS.
· Dr. Alpesh Gandhi, President, Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI)
“Doctors for Clean Air” (DFCA), an initiative by Lung Care Foundation and Health Care Without Harm, is a network of identified, passionate and informed Doctors who are leading the fight against Air Pollution in their respective regions across India. To know more about