Air pollution: Docs, environmentalists join hands, launch Forum for Clean Air

Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), in collaboration with Lung Care Foundation (LCF), launched Ludhiana Forum for Clean Air at the DMCH.

The forum aims to unite doctors, policymakers, environmental experts and citizens to drive awareness and action for cleaner air and is a major step towards tackling the growing crisis of air pollution and its health impacts.

Bipin Gupta, secretary, DMCH, highlighted the responsibility of institutions and citizens in addressing air quality issues and congratulated the team for the collaboration on the initiative.

Dr Rajiv Khurana, founder trustee, LCF, in his key note address on ‘Air pollution and its health impacts’, shared the serious global issue of air pollution, which affected millions of people every year.

He shared that many people died annually due to health problems caused by poor air quality, such as heart disease, stroke, asthma, and lung cancer. He urged everyone to take action by making small lifestyle changes. He stressed that together, we could make the world healthier and cleaner for future generations.

Dr GS Wander, principal , DMCH, said the launch of the Ludhiana Forum for Clean Air was not just a step forward in the fight against air pollution, but a collective responsibility to save future generations.

“As an institution we can undertake research to save our environment, because research is the key to unlocking a healthier tomorrow. As doctors, we are not only healers but advocates for a healthier environment and this forum will provide the platform to combat one of the most important health challenge of today,” he said.

Dr Vivek Gupta, consultant cardiac anaesthesia and chairperson, Ludhiana Forum for Clean Air, said they were planning to bring this programme into action through various forums and, especially through the department of community medicine department at the DMCH. He also added that IMA Ludhiana would be actively take part in the initiative.

A panel discussion was also organised by head of chest medicine Dr Akashdeep Singh, head of paediatrics Dr Puneet Poni, head of medicine Dr Rajesh Mahajan, and president of Ludhiana IMA Dr Dheeraj Aggarwal, who provided critical insights into the medical consequences of air pollution. Joining them were Jasdev Sekhon, Zonal Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana, and RK Ratra from the Punjab Pollution Control Board, who highlighted local government and regulatory efforts being initiated to combat pollution.

The forum concluded with the distribution of DFCA lifetime membership certificates to doctors committed to advocating for clean air and public health.