The Delhi Medical Association has launched an anti-pollution campaign, in a
collaborative effort with CSE
Delhi doctors have joined hands with the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) to
create public awareness about the health effects of pollution. Doctors at the Delhi
Medical Association (DMA) have formed an ‘Anti Pollution Cell’, to monitor the
link between pollution and health disorders. "Pollution directly or indirectly
affects the health of the people and doctors can play a crucial role in making the public
aware of various health hazards," said Rajesh Chawla, senior consultant in
respiratory medicine at the Apollo Hospital and the chairperson of the cell.
DMA’s move has given a boost to CSE’s campaign for the Right to Clean Air, which
was launched in November 1996, after the publication of Slow murder: The deadly story of
vehicular pollution in India, by the latter. A collaborative effort between CSE and the
doctors was initiated at a meeting in January, where doctors agreed that there is an
urgency to involve the medical community in creating public awareness about the health
effects of air pollution.
"This anti-pollution cell has been created primarily to have a permanent forum in DMA
on this issue, so that continuity in our activities does not get disrupted with a change
in portfolios. Besides, a forum like this will help us coordinate with other
organisations," Chawla said.
CSE and DMA are networking with doctors to involve them in the Right to Clean Air
campaign. A questionnaire for doctors has been published in the April 25 issue of D M A
News Bulletin! to enlist doctor’s support on the issue. The response to the
questionnaire has been very enthusiastic, according to DMA. "Doctors confirming
interest in the campaign can render their services in the various projects to be taken up
by the cell in future," Chawla said.
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CSE highlighted the hazards of vehicular pollution at a
conference organised by the Indian Medical Association
The medical community seems to have finally woken up to the problem of health risks from
air pollution. As a testimony to this, Indian Medical Association, East Delhi branch,
organised a national conference on respiratory diseases and air pollution disorders in New
Delhi on September 28, 1997.
Realising the importance of such a forum, which for the first time was aimed at
sensitising the doctors in the capital to the health risks from air pollution, CSE
supported the association’s initiative and also participated in the meet.
CSE took part in the panel discussion that was organised on the same issue. Apart from
outlining the problem of vehicular pollution and resultant health risks, it stressed the
urgency of generating more information on health effects of air pollution and the need for
more active involvement of the medical community with this issue.
CSE put up a stall, which exhibited various CSE publications related to the issue. The
Centre also displayed its Slow Murder exhibition on vehicular pollution which highlighted
and illustrated the problem of pollution from vehicles. The display clearly presented the
connection between air pollution and health risks.
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