A batch-wise capacity building of health workers on “the impact of quality of air on health” was organised for community level health workers (CLHWs) on March 26 at the Conference Hall of Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dimapur Office.
A press release by CMO Dimapur office informed that the capacity building was attended by CLHWs from all the health units under CMO and Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Bureau staff from all health blocks under Dimapur, Chümoukedima and Niuland districts.
Addressing the participants, CMO Dimapur, Dr Limatula Aier, said Dimapur was one of the polluted cities exceeding the pollutant limit.
She said the capacity building was organised to ensure the CLHWs would go back and educate their respective communities. Dr. Jamir urged the participants to work together with the communities to protect themselves and the environment.
Speaking on the roles and responsibilities of CLHWs as resource person, programme officer, Jhpiego, Dr. Antara Sharma said CLHWs could identify the vulnerable population and educate them about sources and types of pollution in their areas, and its impact on their health during village health nutrition days and health camps.
Dr. Sharma said CLHWs can promote preventive measures such as using face masks during peak pollution hours, advocate cleaner cooking fuels like LPG instead of firewood or charcoal, avoid burning of plastic and agricultural waste inside or near household premises.
She said they could create awareness among outdoor workers to protect themselves from health hazards from emissions released by industries and brick kilns etc.
Another resource person epidemiologist, Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) Dimapur, Dr. Molungtsungba Jamir, gave an introduction to air pollution and presented the impact of air pollution on health.
Dr. Jamir said air pollution continues to be a global challenge for the environment, health, and economic development, contributing to numerous deaths and disabilities worldwide that otherwise could be avoidable.
He said clean air was the basic right for all humans and was very important for our well-being. He highlighted the short-term effects like headache and giddiness, chest pain and shortness of breath and long-term effects on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.