India | Study finds healthcare professionals support climate action, role of health sector crucial

India | Study finds healthcare professionals support climate action, role of health sector crucial

The largest ever survey on climate change conducted among over 3000 healthcare professionals in India, has revealed that the health sector should play a crucial role in action and advocacy on climate change in India. Over 85% respondents believed that the healthcare sector has a responsibility to address climate change and reduce their own carbon footprint. 3062 healthcare professionals including doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, hospital administrators, Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) health staff and healthcare students were surveyed in this study conducted between …

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Webinar: Health practitioners perception towards health effects of air pollution in India

Webinar: Health practitioners perception towards health effects of air pollution in India

On July 18 don’t miss out the upcoming webinar Health practitioners perception towards health effects of air pollution in India, organized by the Centre for Chronic Disease Control (CCDC), the Health and Environment Leadership Platform (H.E.L.P.) and Health Care Without Harm.

During the session, speakers will present the findings of the study Understanding knowledge, attitude and practice of health practitioners towards health effects of air pollution in India, and practicing physicians and medical experts will discuss a way forward to better understand the health effects of air pollution.

Register here

For the …

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International health group calls for ban on coal, urges action by governments and institutions

International health group calls for ban on coal, urges action by governments and institutions

Calling coal a “lethal product,” the World Federation of Public Health Associations issued a Call to Ban Coal for Electricity Production.

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India | Doctors exchange knowledge and strategies to protect air quality as lockdown eases

India | Doctors exchange knowledge and strategies to protect air quality as lockdown eases

In a first-of-its-kind webinar, doctors across regions and specialities in India came together to build a strong health sector response to ensure clean air as India begins to reopen. Titled Air Pollution and COVID-19: Strategies for Health Experts to Engage on Air Pollution post Relaxation of COVID-19 Lockdown in India, this webinar hosted by Health Care Without Harm’s partners in India received over 230 registrations, with 1,800+ views through the live stream on Facebook (available here) and 200 individuals joining live through Zoom.

Dr. Poornima Prabhakaran, …

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India | Report finds dangerous levels of PM2.5 and heavy metals in Bengaluru air

India | Report finds dangerous levels of PM2.5 and heavy metals in Bengaluru air

Press Release:

Heavy metal analysis of Bengaluru air reveals presence of extremely toxic chemicals in addition to high PM2.5 levels; Experts call for a well-defined health mitigation plan in addition to strict source specific pollution reduction action plan 

Bengaluru, 1 June 2020: A citizen led initiative to test Bengaluru’s air has found air quality in 20 out of 27 locations sampled from across the city between April to November, 2019 as unhealthy. The levels of PM 2.5 in the worst affected areas nearly ten times the national …

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India | Report: Korba’s coal communities suffer twice the normal respiratory diseases in times of COVID-19

India | Report: Korba’s coal communities suffer twice the normal respiratory diseases in times of COVID-19

Korba’s coal communities suffer from twice the normal respiratory diseases in times of COVID19: SHRC Chhattisgarh

3 April 2020, New Delhi/Raipur: Chhattisgarh’s State Health Resource Centre (SHRC) releases a new study which assesses the health impact on communities in Korba living near coal-fired thermal power plants. The study affirms the hypothesis that the population living near thermal power plants has greater exposure to particulate matter resulting in higher respiratory illnesses than the general population. At a time when the country is in a lockdown …

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India | Health care sector rises to the dual challenge of air pollution and climate change

India | Health care sector rises to the dual challenge of air pollution and climate change

Health Care Without Harm’s initiatives on air pollution and climate change have entered a time of dynamic growth around the world, as evidenced by our collaborative work in India. On a recent visit to India, Health Care Without Harm’s global team participated in three key activities organized by our partners that represented significant advances in the work in terms of scale and opportunity – at the central and state government level, with diverse actors in the health sector, and at the local and community level …

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India | Air Pollution Chokes Chennai – Doctors For Clean Air Urge City’s Inclusion in National Clean Air Programme

India | Air Pollution Chokes Chennai – Doctors For Clean Air Urge City’s Inclusion in National Clean Air Programme

Air quality in all 15 locations sampled from across the city between May and July 2019 was unhealthy, with levels of PM 2.5 in the worst affected areas nearly three times the national standard of 60 ug/m3, according to a study released by Healthy Energy Initiative and Doctors for Clean Air-Tamil Nadu. The widespread nature of pollution and the fact that the samples were taken in summer highlights how the current pollution crisis is neither an isolated nor a seasonal incident. The study analysed 24-hour …

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India | Report reveals respiratory health burden of traffic police in Chennai

India | Report reveals respiratory health burden of traffic police in Chennai

The workplace of Traffic Police Personnel – the public streets – are highly polluted with various sources such as vehicular emissions, road dust, residential and commercial construction, industries, dump yards, etc. Thus, they are vulnerable to long term and continuous exposure to pollutants. Assessing their respiratory health will speak volumes about the brunt of air pollution that they are exposed to. In this context, Huma Lung Foundation, a member of Global Green and Healthy Hospitals and Doctors For Clean Air, conducted the radiographic screening for the Traffic Police Personnel …

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India | Report documents dangerous air quality in Raipur, Chhattisgarh

India | Report documents dangerous air quality in Raipur, Chhattisgarh

The State Health Resource Center and Doctors For Clean Air – Chhattisgarh have released a new report assessing the air quality, particularly the heavy metal content, in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The report was released by SHRC in a meeting of governmental officials, doctors and public health specialists, at the office of State Institute of Health and Family Welfare, Chhattisgarh.

The report found that levels of iron, zinc, lead, nickel and manganese in Raipur were several times higher than in a large city in the U.S., indicating that the city’s overall air quality is poor. Furthermore, the …

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