Patiala begins Citizens’ Movement for Actions for Better Cleaner Air-PMA
Gurjit Singh/ royalpatiala.in/ Patiala
Patiala Management Association along with AIMA in collaboration with Lung Care Foundation organised a session on ‘Breathe Easy Stay Tough’ by experts to the grave situation of Air Pollution in the country and highlight the irreversible damage caused to our health due to exposure to Air Pollution.
According to the latest urban air quality database, 98% of cities in low- and middle income countries with more than 100 000 inhabitants do not meet WHO air quality guidelines.
Incidentally, Patiala is one of the 102 Non-attainment Cities under the National Clean Air Program (NCAP)
Talking about the issue, Rajiv Khurana, Founder Trustee, Lung Care Foundation said “We have to rise above the blame game of citizens vs. government and have to start taking quick measures to curb Air Pollution. It is time that we take local measures to solve a global problem. Life of 1.3 billion Indians is at risk. Lung Care Foundation believes in collaboration with City partners to create collective action-oriented initiates to fight the menace of Air Pollution.”
Dr. Srinivas Gopinath, Chest Surgeon, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi added that “It is very rare that we see lungs in their natural pink colour. Due to high Air Pollution levels, the colour of the Lungs are turning black and unfortunately once the toxins are deposited in the lungs, they cannot be cleaned. Air Pollution is affecting each and every part of our body and is known to be among the leading causes of Lung Cancer”. Dr. Tedros Adhanon, Director – General, WHO, has declared Air Pollution as the next Tobacco Epidemic.
As an outcome of the session, the Patiala Management Association (PMA) has pledged to start B.E.S.T. (Breathe Easy Stay Tough) clubs for school children in Patiala, to empower them with information on Health Impact of Air Pollution and motivate children to seek innovative solutions to curb this menace.
Matrushri Shetty, Director – Programs & Strategy, Lung Care Foundation, highlighted the initiatives taken up school children through B.E.S.T clubs across the country. She also presented the way forward for setting up of B.E.S.T (Breathe Easy Stay Tough) clubs in schools of Patiala.
Speaking on the issue, Dr. Manu Vats, General Secretary of PMA said “More such Programs are being planned to bring together multiple stakeholders including city planners, administrators, local community leaders, and respected Citizens’ of the city to come together for effective and collaborative solutions to reduce Air Pollution. This initiative will be taken up as a joint initiative of PMA and LCF under its campaign Back to ABC: Actions for Better Cleaner Air.”
Dr. Satyen Sharma, Vice President, PMA, added that the city Doctors will also be actively involved in educating the people about the health impact of Air Pollution.
