"Despite these towering promises of SDGs, Indian data suggests our progress is not towards these goals, rather slipping backwards. TB rates were found higher than previously estimated as per latest WHO Global TB Report 2016, asthma and COPD both are rising to emerge as leading cause of death among pulmonary diseases, and COPD is recognized as the second biggest killer among NCDs", said Dr Agam Vora, Secretary General of NAPCON 2016. Rates of Lung fibrosis are climbing up menacingly since past five years. Amongst the diffused lung diseases, idiopathic lung fibrosis (IPF) rates are almost 27% - 41%. It sets in slowly and is usually detected very late severely reducing quality of life of patient and treatment outcomes. The manner in which smog converted a part of India into almost a gas chamber needs action as never before to curtail all causes of air pollution including automobile emissions, deforestation, etc.
Addressing pulmonary diseases is an imperative for government to accelerate progress towards health related SDGs.
Noted film-star Anil Kapoor will be honoured and instituted as the Brand Ambassador for clean air and healthy lungs at NAPCON 2016.
Shobha Shukla, CNS (Citizen News Service)
(Shobha Shukla is the Managing Editor of CNS (Citizen News Service) and is lead author of several publications on lung health. Follow her on twitter @Shobha1Shukla or visit www.citizen-news.org)
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