Empowering Health Champions:  Clean Air Punjab and Fortis Hospital Ludhiana Equip ASHA Workers to Combat Air Pollution

Ludhiana, April 7, 2024: In a unique move to help equip Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers with key right understanding as well as knowledge related to the critical issue of air pollution and its impacts on health, Clean Air Punjab joined hands with Fortis Hospital Ludhiana and organised a convening on occasion of World Health Day, which is observed on April 7.

According to members of Clean Air Punjab, which is a network of organisations and individuals dedicated to promoting clean air and environmental sustainability across the Punjab region, the aim of this convening dedicated for ASHA workers underscores a shared commitment to enhancing public health through informed action at the community level.

The convening saw an active participation from ASHA workers, who play a very important role in grassroots healthcare delivery across communities. Balbir Kaur, President of ASHA workers Ludhiana stated that the platform recognised the importance of empowering these frontline workers with specialised knowledge and focused on enhancing their understanding of the adverse health effects caused due to deteriorating air quality.

"This educational endeavor heralds a new chapter and should serve as an example across India on equipping our frontline health warriors with insights into the threats to well being of people posed by air pollution. Equipped with this knowledge, ASHA workers will now be better prepared to not only lead the charge against air pollution-related health risks but also to better communicate the threats, thus enhancing community health resilience," said the President of ASHA

Distinguished healthcare professionals, including gynecologists and pediatricians from Fortis Hospital Ludhiana, conducted sessions that shed light on the multifaceted health consequences of air pollution, ranging from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases to adverse reproductive health outcomes. These insights will be key in enabling ASHA workers to identify, prevent, and manage pollution-related health issues more effectively.

Dr Gursimran Kaur, Sr. Consultant Obstetrics and Gynaecology, said “Poor air quality has detrimental effects on pregnant women. From increased risks of preterm birth and low birth weight to exacerbating respiratory conditions, such as asthma, bad air quality poses significant threats to maternal and fetal health. It's imperative that we prioritize clean air initiatives to safeguard the well-being of expectant mothers and their unborn children."

Echoing similar sentiments Dr. Gaurav Mittal, Senior Consultant Pediatrician at Fortis Hospital Ludhiana, emphasized that air pollution has numerous adverse effects on newborns, including increased susceptibility to respiratory, skin, and gastrointestinal allergies, as well as a potential predisposition to cancers. Conditions such as atopic dermatitis, eczema, hyperreactive airway disease (asthma), and bronchitis in infants are strongly linked to rising levels of air pollutants. Therefore, monitoring the Air Quality Index in one's surroundings and avoiding the harmful effects of increasing air, water, and other sources of pollutants, as well as long-term exposure to heavy metals and smoke, is highly recommended.

The event concluded with a dynamic session of knowledge exchange, further solidifying the collective resolve to pursue a future where clean air and good health are accessible to all.

As per World Health Organization (WHO) the theme for World Health Day 2024 is 'My Health, My Right’ and was chosen to champion the right of everyone, everywhere to have access to quality health services, education, and information, as well as safe drinking water, clean air, good nutrition, quality housing, decent working and environmental conditions, and freedom from discrimination.