With one in two Indian children experiencing dangerous levels of lead poisoning, Indian leaders from Government and civil society meet with international experts to consider an intensified national response and G20 leadership. A high-level roundtable convened on Tuesday in New Delhi by the Center for Global Development, in partnership with Pahle India Foundation, Pure Earth, the Asian Development Bank, and UNICEF, highlighted opportunities for the Government of India to take a leadership role in the national and global fight against lead poisoning, including via its G20 Presidency. Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare delivered keynote remarks and said “How to build awareness of lead poisoning into the network of 160,000 Ayushman Bharat health and wellness clinics operating today? I hope to get some concrete inputs on this from today’s conference.”
Other speakers included Dr.Thuppil Venkatesh, Chairman, INSLAR, academic experts, civil society leaders, ICMR scientists and representatives of international organizations.
Lead is a pernicious poison that causes extensive harms, even at low levels. Lead exposure in early childhood interferes with normal cognitive development, causing lifelong learning deficits and behavioral problems. In adults, lead exposure causes hypertension and steeply increases the risk of heart attacks.
