ILOILO City – The health sector here should lead the campaign against air pollution, considering the negative effects of polluted air to children, women and other vulnerable sectors, according to an international nongovernment organization (NGO) that works to transform healthcare worldwide.
In a forum dubbed “Defending Public Health from Air Pollution” held recently at St. Paul’s Hospital Iloilo, Ramon San Pascual, executive director of Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) Southeast Asia, said air pollution is not just an environmental issue.
“The World Health Organization (WHO) considers it a health concern as well. Air pollution has become a leading cause of death,” said Pascual.
For his part, Paeng Lopez, Health Energy Initiative Campaigner of HCWH Southeast Asia, said air pollution threatens everyone, particularly the poorest and the marginalized people.
The most affected sectors by air pollution are children, women, and outdoor workers, said Lopez.
“Pneumonia is the leading cause of death in children under five years of age; while women working in smoky kitchens are exposed to high levels of household air pollution, and people who work outdoors such as street vendors and traffic enforcers are affected by air pollution,” he added.
If people do not take urgent action on air pollution, Lopez said, “We will never come close to achieving sustainable development,” Lopez said, citing the warning of WHO director general Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus.
Air pollution is a silent killer, causing seven million deaths around the world every year, he stressed.
“By reducing air pollution, countries can reduce stroke, heart diseases, and lung cancer, among others,” said Lopez. (PIA/PN)
