The combination of festive activities and the onset of winter have further deteriorated the Air Quality Index (AQI) in certain States and Union Territories across India forcing the Union Health Ministry to issue an advisory directing state health departments and healthcare facilities to enhance their preparedness to safeguard the health of public against the ill-effects of rising air pollution levels. Recently, the Ministry has said that people should limit outdoor activities including early morning/late evening sports and walking (particularly the elderly and vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, children, and those working outdoors like traffic police officers). The Central government in its recent order to State and Union Territories warned that air pollution is a significant contributor to acute health conditions and exacerbates the progression of related chronic diseases.
It has asked them to initiate measures to ensure preparedness in view of the deteriorating air quality across northern India, with the onset of winters, and its adverse impact on people’s health. The letter from the Centre has directed that public awareness campaigns using regional languages through mass media be pressed into action and has also called for strengthening the healthcare workforce and increasing participation in sentinel surveillance for air pollution-related diseases. Weather experts have noted that air quality in the National Capital is currently in the ‘very poor’ category .