Air pollution and implications of health research for policy-making byNational Centre for Disease Control, India

Abstract

Air pollution is a major risk factor for ill health in India. In India, 1·24 million deaths in 2017 were attributable to air pollution. The National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) of the Health Ministry, formed in 2019, and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the nodal technical agency for it, are working on strategies related to air pollution and health issues. Under NPCCHH, following areas are being addressed: Firstly, initiation of surveillance of respiratory illnesses at sentinel hospitals and analysis in context of changing air quality indices (AQI). This surveillance is run in Delhi since 2017 and has helped understanding pattern of emergency visits in relation to changing pattern of AQI. Now another 11 States, 42 hospitals in 35 cities have started this surveillance. NPCCHH targets to establish it in hospitals of all polluted cities. States are being supported to develop Heath Adaptation Plans which would detail their health sector preparedness plans to be undertaken for protecting against health impact of air pollution. Meanwhile NCDC issues advisories to states about necessary activities to be implemented. NCDC is working on increasing awareness among general and vulnerable population. Health message templates have been created and disseminated using social messaging platforms, and also are shared with states for translation in local languages and dissemination. Awareness drives are organized on various occasions. Another area being addressed is capacity building of medical professionals in topics related to air pollution. One of the challenges is about having evidence on intervention measures that protect human health. NCDC has identified some areas for research and requested research institutions to develop and fund proposals on them so as to help Health Ministry with making informed policy decisions.