Health camps, greenery and cleanliness drive in Kolkata on World Environment Day
Times of India | 6 June 2024
KOLKATA: Some hospitals in Kolkata took up different initiatives in the city on Wednesday to observe the World Environment Day. Manipal Hospitals hosted a health check-up camp for tram and bus operators in collaboration with the West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC). These health camps will continue at various WBTC depots and workshops over the coming weeks.Upon the conclusion of all camps, Manipal Hospitals will submit a detailed 'State of Health' report to WBTC, offering crucial insights into the health status of the city’s tram and bus operators.
Organised by Anindya Mandal, Joint Managing Director, WBTC, he also flagged off an air-conditioned tram from the Esplanade tram control room. The tram journeyed through north Kolkata before returning to the Esplanade depot.
“We hope that such initiatives taken by brands like Manipal will help us in making eco-friendly modes of public transport like trams and battery-operated buses even more popular,” Mandal.
Senior WBTC officials, and doctors from various Kolkata units of the hospital chain were present at the event. Doctors present discussing various aspects of traffic emissions and related diseases.
“There’s a direct correlation between traffic emissions and pulmonary diseases. Reducing vehicular pollution is essential, and the efforts of the State Transport Department and WBTC in prioritizing eco-friendly transport options like trams and battery-operated buses are highly commendable,” Dr Debraj Jash, HOD, Pulmonology.
Dr Sumanta Chatterjee, interventional cardiologist of the hospital’s Dhakuria unit highlighted the cardiovascular risks associated with poor air quality, stating, “Inhaling polluted air allows harmful particles to penetrate deep into the bloodstream through the lungs, increasing the risk of heart and circulatory diseases. Air pollutants can constrict and harden blood vessels, heightening health risks.”
“Tiny particulate matter from traffic emissions can accumulate in the lungs, causing DNA damage in cells and potentially leading to cancer. It's vital to address these emissions to safeguard public health,” said Dr Asutosh Daga, oncologist attached with the hospital’s Dhakuria & Mukundapur, speaking about the long-term cancer risks from traffic emissions.
Staff at Medica Superspecialty Hospital organised a cleanliness drive in the hospital’s vicinity. Employees from all departments joined the effort in cleaning up debris and said such initiatives will be taken up on a regular basis.
In an event organised by Medical Bank each student of Nabadisha was presented with a sapling by Jorabagan Traffic Guard officer-in-charge Satadal Bhattacharya. The organisation’s secretary D Ashish said his team will oversee that these saplings are planted in the right way to ensure it grows.