APD Foundation and AJIMS to Conduct Lung Check-up for Mangaluru Traffic Police Personnel
Mangaluru: The Mangaluru-based Anti-Pollution Drive Foundation (APDF), in collaboration with the AJ Institute of Medical Sciences (AJIMS), Mangaluru Traffic East Police, and Mangaluru East Police, will conduct a comprehensive lung health check-up for traffic police personnel on Sunday, September 29, 2024, from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM at Kadri Police Station, Mangaluru. This initiative coincides with World Lung Day, observed globally on September 25 each year. The 2024 international theme, “Clean Air and Healthy Lungs for All,” emphasizes the critical connection between air quality and lung health.
A specialized medical team from AJ Institute of Medical Sciences will conduct Pulmonary Function Tests (PFT), ECG, and random blood sugar tests for all traffic police personnel. In addition, essential medicines will be distributed free of charge. These efforts aim to raise awareness and protect the health of traffic police officers, who are routinely exposed to harmful air pollution and challenging work conditions.
The programme will be formally inaugurated with a lamp-lighting ceremony at 11:00 AM, attended by senior police officers and medical officers from the Department of Community Medicine, AJIMS. The initiative will continue on subsequent Sundays to reach more police personnel.
In tandem with the medical tests, volunteers from the APD Foundation will conduct individual health surveys for each participant. The collected data will be carefully analyzed, with the goal of covering at least 150 traffic police personnel. A comprehensive report of the findings, along with practical recommendations, will be submitted to the government.
This is not the first such initiative by the APD Foundation. In 2016, the Foundation conducted a similar health check-up for police personnel in Mangaluru and Bengaluru, followed by a 2017 study on auto drivers. These studies aim to understand the impact of air pollution on outdoor workers and propose actionable solutions for improving public health. As public transport vehicles as significant contributors to air pollution, APD Foundation has also advocated for the mandatory transition of public transport to electric vehicles to reduce pollution.
“Air pollution is a growing threat to public health, and we are already witnessing its adverse effects in cities like Delhi,” said Abdullah A. Rehman, Founder and CEO of APD Foundation, during a press conference at the Press Club. “As a Tier 2 city, Mangaluru has the unique opportunity to take proactive measures to avoid such hazardous conditions.” Joining him at the press meet were Bhaskar Arasa, Public Relations Coordinator, and Geetha Surya, Project Coordinator of APD Foundation.
Since its establishment in 2014, APD Foundation has been dedicated to improving public health through environmental conservation. The organization has played a key role in introducing an Air Quality Index (AQI) machine to Mangaluru, preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Solid Waste Management (SWM) in Mangaluru city, and compiling the first data on the effects of air pollution on outdoor workers in both Mangaluru and Bengaluru.