Lok Sabha Question No. 781 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-26
Subject: Cases of Respiratory Diseases
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 781 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2024

## CASES OF RESPIRATORY DISEASES

## 781. SHRI SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV:

Will the Minister of Health and Family Welfare be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government contemplates to make policies and take initiative with the purpose of increasing awareness about health related concerns arising due to pollution, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether any fund has been allocated for the said activities in the Budget, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether speedy breathing infection problem is very critical in high risk groups particularly in children and senior citizens due to air pollution;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to control such breathing infection; and
- (f) the measures taken by the Government to control air pollution particularly in urban areas of the country?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE

## (SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)

(a) & (b): The Government has launched National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH), NCDC for addressing climate related health concerns including Air Pollution through five key programme objectives of awareness generation, health sector capacity building, preparedness and response mechanisms, partnerships with key relevant stakeholders and bringing up local Indian evidences on the subject. Some of the awareness generation initiatives are as follows:

- Information, Education and Communication (IEC) (Videos, Audios, Posters, Social Media content) developed on Climate Change and Climate Sensitive Diseases including Air pollution and Heat are shared to States/UTs and are available on the NCDC website. It can be accessed at the link https://ncdc.mohfw.gov.in/national-programme-on-climate-changehuman-health/.
- Awareness among Programme Officers, Medical Officers, Health Workers, ASHA, Panchayati Raj Institution members through capacity building sessions.

Under National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH), a total of Rs.1293.82 lakhs have been allocated to States/UTs under IEC & Printing for Climate Change including air pollution for the year 2024-25.

(c) to (f): Children of age below 5 years and the elderly population are more vulnerable to affects caused due to air pollution. The severity of these effects depends on the level of pollution and the duration of exposure.

Government of India has taken several steps to address air pollutions issues. These include:

i. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) aims to safeguard the health of women & children by providing them with a clean cooking fuel- LPG.

ii. Swachh Bharat Mission to clean up streets, roads and infrastructure of India's cities, smaller towns, and rural areas. Swachh Hawa is an integral component of Swachh Bharat.

iii. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has launched National Clean Air program in 2019 as a national level strategy to reduce air pollution levels across the country.

iv. MOHFW has launched National Program on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) at National Centre for disease Control (NCDC), with objective to create awareness, capacity building, health sector preparedness and response and partnerships related activities on the climate sensitive health issues in the country since 2019. Now the Programme has expanded in all the State/UTs and activities are conducted in the form of training on Climate Sensitive Diseases, Surveillance on Acute Respiratory Illnesses and Heat related Illnesses, generation & dissemination of IEC on Air Pollution & Heat and its health impacts on health which include children. Further, guidelines on 'Air Pollution and its Impact on Children's Health' have been developed in both Hindi and English under National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health in 2020 and shared with States, for implementation.

v. NCDC under Ministry of Health & Family Welfare issues health advisory every year to the States/UTs to address health concern of the masses including that of children. Several workshops and trainings have been conducted for community level health workers on air pollution and its health impact on children's health.

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