Chhattisgarh Health Department launches a statewide awareness campaign on air pollution and health

Chhattisgarh Health Department launches a statewide awareness campaign on air pollution and health

As the winter and festival season approaches, many parts of India are currently experiencing extremely high levels of air pollution that can have detrimental impacts on health of the population. Keeping this in mind and safety of the population, Hon’ble Health Minister Shri T S Singh Deo and the Department of Health and Family Welfare of the Government of Chhattisgarh have initiated a State-wide awareness campaign on air pollution and health impacts.

“Chhattisgarh happens to be among those States which has very …

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India | Media campaign to urge the implementation of thermal power plant emission norms

Healthy Energy Initiative India and Doctor’s for Clean Air, along with leading citizen groups and doctors from different regions of that country, recently released a video that shows how the delay in the implementation of emission standards in coal power plants causes irreparable damage to the health of children. 

According to the video, missed deadlines each year causes an estimated  “88,000 cases of childhood asthma, 140,000 cases of pre-term births, and 3,900 premature deaths among children.”

Image from the video

 

“The toxic fumes which come out of thermal …

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South Africa | Public health professionals call on government for climate leadership

South Africa | Public health professionals call on government for climate leadership

A group of prominent South African public health experts and practitioners has written to Finance Minister Tito Mboweni calling for stronger leadership from the South African government on climate, energy and health in building a post-COVID-19 South Africa.

In a letter to Minister Mboweni on 14 September 2020, the Climate, Energy and Health Special Interest Group of the Public Health Association of South Africa (PHASA) writes that it is necessary to act now to combat climate change and build a new, resilient economy. The Special Interest Group has appealed to Minister …

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Report: 76 major coal ash accidents in the last decade in India, yet regulatory norms being diluted

Report: 76 major coal ash accidents in the last decade in India, yet regulatory norms being diluted

A new report by Healthy Energy Initiative India and Community Environmental Monitoring establishes that at least 76 major coal ash pond accidents occurred across the country between 2010 and June 2020.

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Study finds uneven levels of awareness among doctors about air pollution and health

Study finds uneven levels of awareness among doctors about air pollution and health

Health Care Without Harm’s partner in India, the Centre for Chronic Disease Control, has published findings from a study titled “Understanding knowledge, attitude and practice of health practitioners towards health effects of air pollution in India.”

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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 | Air quality report from industrial towns in Chhattisgarh raises health concerns

India | Air quality report from industrial towns in Chhattisgarh raises health concerns

In May 2020 the State Health Resource Center (SHRC) of the state of Chhattisgarh released, with the support of Healthy Energy Initiative India, the Korba Air Quality report that highlights the toxic levels of air pollutants in the cities of Korba, Champa and Raipur.

Results show that in the three towns the concentrations of PM 2.5 (or fine, respirable pollution particles) were between 3.1 and 9.1 times higher than the national standard. The report was featured in the national newspaper Hindustan Times.

Manganese concentrations in eight of …

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