Paras Hospitals Fights Against Pollution: Children March Towards a Greener Future

The pollution levels in Gurgaon surpassed the “very severe” limit on the Air Quality Index (AQI).

·         Students of Senior Secondary Government School Gurgaon marched from Paras Hospitals to Ardee City masked and carrying plants.

·         1000 petitions were signed and uploaded on change.org urging the government to find a solution to pollution.

·         Doctors at Paras Hospitals comment on the critical health under the campaign “Let’s be part of solution &not pollution” on the consequences of pollution on children and adults alike.

NewsPatrolling.com  :  The pollution level on the Air Quality Index (AQI) has surpassed the “very severe” limit. This has got the pulmonologists of Paras Hospitals worried. At the current trends, air pollution would be the leading contributor of non-communicable diseases in the coming decades. The rising menace of pollution has resulted in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), asthma, skin ailments, heart attacks or even cancer. According to a recent report published by an international journal, exercising in this toxic air is no longer beneficial for the elderly citizens. To address this, 200 students marched from Paras Hospitals Gurgaon to Ardee City masked and carrying plants to underline the importance of having a greener tomorrow.

Dr Arunesh Kumar, Head of Pulmonology Department at Paras Hospitals Gurgaon says “This is a time of crisis which needs to be addressed immediately. We at Paras Hospitals believe in integrating health with the welfare society. Every third child in Delhi and surrounding regions has impaired lungs. The asthmatic patients have risen exponentially. Since children are more prone to infections, pollution affects them gravely. Air pollution currently causes 30% of premature deaths in India. Pollution retards lung growth in children. Small lungs increase the chances of respiratory diseases and infections.”

The quality of urban space is gradually declining. Healthy food and exercise won’t suffice. People need to make conscious efforts to reduce the toxic burden that our country is in. A healthy child today would build a strong nation tomorrow. Resonating this is Mrs Anjana Dhingra, Principal of Senior Secondary School, Chakkarpur, Gurgaon “We realize the danger we have put our children in. The participation of the students is voluntary and they know the necessity and the value of breathing in fresh air. Recent incidences in the capital have shown disturbing alleviations of pollution levels. When Paras Hospitals approached us with this noble initiative of finding a cause towards building a healthy tomorrow, we were more than glad to help. The Class 11^th and Class 12^th students of the school were ecstatic to be a part of this strives towards securing their own future. Due to pollution, we often have to shut down schools for a day or two. This directly affects the fluidity of education that teachers provide.”

Such initiatives bring together the civil society and unmask the dark reality of our times. With changing lifestyles and environmental conditions, we not only need to learn how to adapt but also strive to make our future better through similar initiatives.

PMO Civil Hospital Gurgaon and the guest of honor Dr Pradeep Sharma says “Safeguarding the future is a collective responsibility. The onus does not lie on these children alone. Proper diet and exercise may prove to be beneficial in the longer run. If you are healthy and aware, your child would undoubtedly follow your footsteps in contributing towards a better tomorrow.”