Health ministry writes to all states on alarming air pollution, fire incidents

As the air pollution levels spike and reached alarming levels in many cities across the country, the health ministry on Monday wrote to states on serious health challenges air pollution poses, and has asked them to develop the district and city-level action plans for climate change and health under National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) including strategies for air pollution.

Highlighting that the health impacts of air pollution are multifaceted, contributing not only to acute illnesses but also to chronic conditions affecting the respiratory, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems etc, union health secretary Punya Salila Srivastava in a letter to all states and UTs said, “It is important to note that State Action Plans for Climate Change and Human Health (which encompass air pollution) are already in place under the NPCCHH. As a next step, developing district and city-level action plans for climate change and health under NPCCHH-including strategies for air pollution-would be beneficial. Expanding the network of sentinel hospitals for monitoring air pollution-related illnesses in your State or UT is also crucial”.

The letter reads, “Vulnerable populations including children, pregnant women, the elderly, individuals with pre-existing conditions, and workers exposed to pollution are particularly at risk. To address this issue, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has prepared advisories and circulated to all States & UTs. An updated advisory on air pollution and health is enclosed for ready reference”.

The ministry said the advisory also includes recommendations for States/Union Territories (UTs) to strengthen existing health systems and to raise awareness among vulnerable groups and at-risk occupations. The materials provided in this advisory can be effectively utilized to support on-going IEC activities, it said.

In a separate letter, Union health secretary has also asked all Chief Secretaries of States/UTs to take up the issue of strengthening capacities for prevention, preparedness and mitigation against fire accidents in all health facilities on priority and directed all health facilities to undertake their respective evaluations in continuation of the Ministry’s previous communication.

“Despite substantive measures taken by some of the States to prevent and prepare against fire accidents in health facilities (both public and private), continued reporting of such accidents and loss of precious lives highlight the need to take up rigorous review and monitoring of fire prevention and safety protocols in all health facilities”, said the ministry.

The ministry has also asked states to constitute district level committees headed by District Collectors comprising of relevant officials from health, fire services and public works departments to undertake physical inspection of all health facilities.

The health ministry has asked to review and update the fire prevention and response plans of all health facilities and training all healthcare staff on fire safety protocols and to conducting regular preventive fire safety drills including evacuation plans.