The Health Ministry has issued a critical advisory in wake of deteriorating air quality across various regions of India, mainly in the wake of the festive season. In its notice, the ministry has urged people, old age, pregnant women, children, and outdoor workers to limit outdoor activities including early morning exercises and walks.
Latest estimates prove that the AQI has already slipped into the moderate to poor ranges across most states and union territories, and is likely to further deteriorate with higher festive activities, especially when winter sets in. The ministry states that the health impacts of air pollution are an aggravator for patients suffering from respiratory, cardiovascular, and cerebrovascular diseases. In addition, the ministry states that premature mortality is often reported to be associated with the above effects.
The advisory explicitly highlights children and the elderly as susceptible groups at greater risk due to air pollution. In this regard, the ministry has made appeals to the state health departments and healthcare facilities to boost their preparedness to address these areas of concern. Regarding this, the ministry has also appealed to public health offices to intensify public awareness campaigns in local languages and expand healthcare services concerning diseases with air pollution.
To minimize adverse health impacts, the advisory suggests several precautionary measures. It asks people to avoid activities which can promote pollution, such as burning stubble and flamboyant use of firecrackers while celebrating occasions. Besides, the ministry also suggests promotion of public transport over personal and minimizing the usage of diesel-based generators. Citizens are asked to monitor air quality through official applications, stay away from highly congested areas, and switch on to cleaner fuels for household usages.
For those having associated respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, the ministry has recommended to significantly cut down on outdoor activity during peak pollution hours and seek medical attention if there is deterioration of their symptoms.
As the situation demands, the Health Ministry shall continue to take stringent measures towards securing public health and increasing the level of awareness pertaining to the urgent need to collaborate in fighting this menace of air pollution. With this advisory, the public has been reminded of the risks that bad air quality creates to their health, especially in the context where many will likely conduct celebrations outdoors.
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