<![CDATA[ {"author":{"@type":"Organization","name":"World Health Organization: WHO","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://www.who.int/Images/SchemaOrg/schemaOrgLogo.jpg","width":250,"height":60}},"headline":"Air pollution: The invisible health threat","description":"
“In the realm of public health, the detrimental effects of air pollution have long been arncause for concern. A disconcerting reality persists: the issue of air pollution remainsrninadequately integrated into the educational curricula of health professionals. Byrnequipping health professionals with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills tornunderstand, assess, and mitigate the health risks associated with air pollution, we canrnempower them to take proactive measures that protect people’s health.”
Maria Neira, Director Department Environment,rnClimate Change and Health, WHO
Air pollution is a public healthrnemergency
Each day, as we take a breath,rnan invisible storm of particlesrnand molecules infiltrates ourrnbodies, posing a threat not onlyrnto our lungs. Yet, have you ever truly pondered the significancernof clean air as an important determinant of your health and wellbeing? Yet, it is a question thatrnwarrants your consideration, forrnyou likely find yourself amongrnthe vast majority – 99% of people exposed to air pollution levelsrnthat exceed those recommendedrnby WHO in their latest guidelinesrnpublished in 2021.]]>
Air pollution is a major environmental threat and one of thernmain cases of death among allrnrisk factors, ranking just belowrnhypertension, tobacco smokingrnand high glucose. WHO estimates that, globally, air pollution is responsible for about 7 millionrnpremature deaths per year fromrnischemic heart disease, stroke,rnchronic obstructive pulmonaryrndisease and lung cancer, but alsornfrom acute respiratory infections such as pneumonia whichrnmainly affects children in low-rnand middle-income countries. Being recognized as one of thernmain risk factors for Non-Communicable Diseases, a growingrnand consistent body of evidencernshows that air pollution healthrneffects also include preterm andrnlow-birthweight, asthma as wellrnas cognitive and neurologicalrnimpairment basically havingrnthe potential to impact our wholernbody, way beyond our lungs.Air pollution is a threat alsornfor public health economy as itrnimposes enormous global health costs representing 6.1% of thernglobal gross domestic productrn(more than US$ 8 trillion in 2019).
© Vadim/Adobe Stock
Breathing for tomorrow:rntraining the next generation of health workers
Put yourself in the shoes of arnfamily doctor, faced with a youngrngirl who frequently suffers fromrnasthma attacks. As you embarkrnon the journey of gathering herrnmedical history, you realizernthat there might be more to thernstory than meets the eye. Couldrnair pollution be an underlyingrnrisk factor worth considering inrnyour patient’s assessment? Whatrnadditional questions would yournpose? How would you advise herrnto reduce her risk?rn
At present, health workers arernoften not aware of the health impacts of air pollution. Thisrnrisk factor is not sufficientlyrnaddressed in the curricula ofrnhealth professionals, with onlyrn12% of medical schools world-rnwide including it as part of for-rnmal education, a study from thernInternational Association ofrnMedical Students’ Associationsrnreports. As research is showingrnthat a strong incorporation ofrnair pollution and health as partrnof clinical disease guidelinesrnis missing, the results from arnWorld Heart Federation members survey indicates that whilernair pollution is recognized asrnone of the major risk factors forrncardiovascular diseases, lessrnthan 50% of the responders feltrnthat they have access to anyrntools and resources they needrnto better educate themselvesrnand others.
Yet, the international community recently recognized that thernhealth workforce should play arnmore prominent role in the battlernfor clean air. The World HealthrnAssembly resolutions WHA68.8,9rn“Health and the environment:rnaddressing the health impactrnof air pollution”, and A69/18,10rn“Road map for an enhancedrnglobal response to the adversernhealth effects of air pollution”rnrequest WHO to strengthen therncapacity of the health sector tornaddress the adverse health effectsrnof air pollution.rn
In a landmark collaborationrnwith more than 30 international experts, the World HealthrnOrganization has developedrnthe first WHO Air Pollution andrnHealth Training toolkit targetingrnhealth workers (APHT) set to be unveiled at the end of 2023. Therntoolkit will be made of download-rnable and interactive resources torntrain health care workers, andrnbeyond. In preparation for therntoolkit launch, a freely accessible OpenWHO online trainingrnwill be released on the occasionrnof the UN International Day forrnClean Air and Blue Sky on 7 September 2023.
© WHO/Blink Media/Tali Kimelman
Training the trainers: a pilotrnworkshop in Ghana
“If health workers are aware, theyrncan train their peers and advisernpeople in their neighborhoodsrnand communities on how tornreduce their risk”, said EdwardrnOwusu, District Control Officerrnat the Regional Health Directorate, Central Ghana. Edwardrnis one of the almost fifty healthrnprofessionals that gathered in Kumasi, Ghana, in June 2022rnduring a one-week pilot workshoprnof the APHT toolkit led by WHOrnin collaboration with GhanarnHealth Service. WHO alsorninvited experts from the GlobalrnFamily Doctors (WONCA) andrnUniversity of Ghana.
Participantsrnwere exposed to a set of trainingrnmodules and multiple interactivernsessions, tackling introductoryrnmodules about air pollution andrnhealth as well as specific modulesrnfor clinicians and care-giversrnaddressing cardiovascular andrnrespiratory diseases as well asrnthe health effects of air pollution on newborns, children andrnpregnant women. Using a train-the-trainer approach, the pilotrnworkshop allowed health professionals to gain appropriate skillsrnand knowledge to act as trainersrnwith peer colleagues in the health sector and in the communitiesrnthey serve. The development of arnclinical approach to air pollutionrnwas enhanced using clinical casernscenarios specifically designedrnto improve the clinical reason-rning of health professionals, taking environmental risk factorsrninto proper consideration whenrnassessing the health status ofrna patient, and providing guidance for exposure reduction. Arnfield visit to hot spot air pollutionrnsites was also organized. Pilotingrndirectly with the target audiencernensure relevance and providerninvaluable feedback for futurernadaptation and implementationrnon the ground.
© WHO/Ben Benasco Sackey
Clean air interventions as a win-win-opportunity
A reduction in air pollution emissions is a “win–win” opportunity to simultaneously protect humanrnhealth and the environment andrnto address climate change mitigation, as the combustion of fossil fuels contributes to increasingrnthe levels of some air pollutants.
In addition to interventionsrnthat can take place in sectorsrnlike household energy, transportation, power generationrnand industry, agriculture, andrnhousing, building the capacity of the health sector on airrnpollution and health is essential to reduce the burden ofrndisease. Health workers haverna central role to play in thisrneffort while engaging in multi-sectoral action and advocaternfor clean air interventions thatrnaim at lowering emissions ofrnpollutants – and promote therncollaboration between all civil society relevant actors, politicalrnparties, and institutions for policy implementation. Their action is an unprecedentedrnopportunity to protect and pro-rnmote both people’s health andrnwellbeing as well as the planet.
While health care workers cannotrnreduce the emissions of air pollution alone, the constant trustrnbeing given to them and being atrnthe front line of prevention andrncare, is a strong basis for providing guidance to individuals,rnpatients and communities. Primary prevention and addressingrnroot causes of ill-health remainsrncrucial and needs to be strengthened, as it is cost-effective butrnoften under-funded and over-rnlooked. The health argumentrnneeds to be central to policy making in various sectors for a healthyrnplanet with healthy people. WHOrnleadership is now needed morernthan ever.
© Pexels
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