Medica Group of Hospitals organized an awareness program on ‘Air Pollution and Health Effects’ at Medica Superspecialty Hospital in Kolkata in collaboration with the Centre for Chronic Disease and Control (CCDC), Health and Environment Leadership Platform (HELP).

The event was inaugurated by Dr. Alok Roy, Chairman, Medica Group of Hospitals in the presence of Dr. R.K Das, Consultant – Pulmonary Medicine, Medica Superspecialty Hospital, Dr. Poornima Prabhakaran, Deputy Director, Centre for Environmental Health Public Health Foundation of India, Senior Research Scientist, Centre for Chronic Disease Control and Mr. Masroor Azam, Research Associate, Centre for Chronic Disease Control.

The participants in the hour-long workshop learned about the potential roles that physicians and other healthcare workers could have in successfully and efficiently connecting with their patients and communities.

It also concentrated on the various ways in which healthcare professionals may act as educators, communicators, and champions for clean and renewable energy—a critical component in the fight against air pollution in India.

According to Dr. Alok Roy, air pollution causes both direct and indirect health consequences for people. “Working to enhance it is something we owe to both ourselves and coming generations. We are all not enough aware of the same thing. This conference will increase public awareness of environmental issues, particularly air pollution” said Dr. Roy.

In the year 2020, the CCDC carried out and disseminated a study on “Understanding Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Health Practitioners Towards Health Effects of Air Pollution in India.” The study demonstrated how many practitioners are not well equipped to assess and communicate the health effects of air pollution to their patients, despite the fact that it has become a serious concern throughout the world, notably in India.

The Climate and Health Air Monitoring Project (CHAMP) and the Health and Environment Leadership Platform (HELP) were briefly described by Mr. Masroor Azam, Research Associate, Centre for Chronic Disease Control.

CHAMP is a program that raises awareness of the link between air pollution and health impacts. HELP is a network of hospitals, healthcare facilities, and health associations dedicated to reducing their environmental health burden and becoming climate-smart.