To mark International day of clean air for blue skies, an online meeting was organized by School of Journalism and Mass Communication, DAVV Indore with UNICEF for media students and media representatives. Around 55 participants had joined it.
Speaking at the meeting Rajashree Bajaj, State Nodal Officer for National Programme on climate change and human health, with Department of Health and Family Welfare, GoMP, said that Madhya Pradesh has a State Plan for Action climate change for Human Health and is moving in the direction to help reduce air pollution. Air Pollution effects on under five mortality among children and maternal mortality. Research shows that prenatal exposure to pollutants can increase the risk of preterm delivery and low birth weight. In a destructive feedback loop, air pollution not only contributes to climate change but is also exacerbated by it.
In her presentation which she shared at the meet she said that more than half of deaths due to pneumonia in U5s are due to particulate matter inhaled from hazardous air pollutants due to bio-mass fuels.
Halving of hazardous air pollution exposure reduced severe pneumonia by 33 percent. Larger exposure reduction may further reduce risk.
Speaking at the meet, Sarbjit Singh Sahota, Emergency Specialist, UNICEF India said that Madhya Pradesh has taken a great step forward by having ‘State Plan for Action on climate change for human health’. Now we need to make sure that we focus on its implementation and suggested that MP can also look towards developing district wise source apportionment studies through a community-based process, in particular for high air polluting districts which will help in identifying the areas which contribute to higher pollution, so that we State can work on the source.
Vandana Bhatia Health Specialist UNICEF Madhya Pradesh spoke about the need to change mindset to bring about reduction in air pollution which impacts children and women. Anil Gulati, Communication Specialist, UNICEF Madhya Pradesh, facilitated the meet and introduced the subject.