There was fog in the sky throughout the day in Delhi-NCR on Wednesday.
In view of the growing menace of air pollution in many cities of the country, including the capital Delhi, the Health Ministry has appealed to state governments to take prompt measures to prevent its serious health effects. Issuing the letter, Union Health Ministry Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava expressed serious concern over the growing health problems due to air pollution in the country.
The letter said that air pollution has led to many serious problems in recent years. In winter, the air quality index in the country usually ranges from poor to severe. So it can cause chronic diseases that affect breathing, heart and brain.
ministry guidelines
Director General of Health Services Atul Goyal, in a letter published on October 19, appealed to states to intensify public awareness campaigns, strengthen the capacity of health workers and increase participation in the surveillance system for diseases related to air pollution.
Apart from this, the Union Health Ministry has recommended drawing up action plans at district and city levels to address the effects of air pollution. Furthermore, the Ministry has also talked about expanding the network of hospitals to control diseases caused by air pollution under the NPCCHH.
The advice of the Ministry of Health to be prepared
The Union Health Ministry has issued a directive to all states and union territories on this issue, recommending steps to strengthen the existing healthcare system and sensitize vulnerable groups.
The letter says that children, pregnant women, the elderly and people who are already sick are especially affected by the effects of air pollution. Therefore, priority should be given to measures to increase awareness of these groups.
