Key Points
Every breath we take holds the potential for life or disease, and as a lung surgeon tracking and treating respiratory diseases, I am a witness to the silent war waged within our bodies on account of the toxic air we breathe..
Air pollution is not merely an environmental concern; it is a public health crisis of colossal proportions..
The information disseminated on air quality should not be restricted to displaying AQI numbers; rather, it should be coupled with clear health advisories that make the numbers relatable to the public without letting a sense of apathy set in..
Hospitals and health centres should be prepared to respond to patients whose health is impacted by polluted air, our healthcare workforce should be educated to make sure they factor in the history of exposure to poor air, including levels of household or occupational risk, while diagnosing a disease and prescribing treatment..
In 2022, we launched the Medanta Institute of Research and Advocacy for Clean Air and Health (MIRACAH) with the objective of working towards advocacy, training and research on air pollution and health." Our belief is that any health infrastructure must not merely respond, but proactively protect citizens from the health hazards of the air we breathe..
