On the occasion of National Doctors’ Day, SwitchON Foundation organized a panel discussion on air pollution and climate change with the top doctors from Kolkata in collaboration with EPICINDIA, University of Chicago. Along with it, the panel provided medical students chosen from medical schools in West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Odisha with orientation training for its flagship program, the Clean Air Medical Students Ambassador Program. Several medical associations, including the South Asian Medical Students Association, the Association of Radiation Oncologists of India, the Chest Council of India, and the Society of Emergency Medicine, among others, endorse the project.

The Program’s main goal was to create a strong network of medical experts who will support local advocacy for sustainable development by being knowledgeable about the harmful impacts of pollution on human health. Topics like cancer, respiratory, reproductive, maternal (including child and mother), cardiovascular, and community health was covered in research studies on air pollution and its detrimental consequences on health outcomes. Conducting training sessions, workshops, health fairs, mini-projects on the trash and single-use plastic, etc. were additional activities. Each ambassador will get a specific salary in addition to travel and other expenses for carrying out the research.

Along with training and mentorship from top doctors and specialists, certificates will be given to program participants, and awards will be given to the highest performers. The medical ambassador will have networking chances with top health researchers, experts in clean air, politicians, and government officials, as well as physicians.

Eminent dignitaries present in the panel were Shri Ashirbad Raha, Communications Director, EPIC India, Dr. Arup Halder, Consultant Pulmonologist, CMRI Hospital, Dr. Kaustav Choudhury, Pediatric Consultant, Apollo Gleneagles Hospital, Dr. Sanjukta Dutta, Consultant and Head, Emergency Medicine, Fortis Hospital, Kolkata, and Dr. Sushmita Roy Chowdhury, Director, Pulmonology, Fortis Hospital Anandapur, Kolkata.

The experts highlighted the effect of air pollution and climate change.

Priyanka Dutta