JJ Hospital in Mumbai has now started a 17-bed ward dedicated to air pollution-related ailments. The ward will be functional under the pulmonary medicine department of the hospital.
This development came three days after the Maharashtra health department appointed the JJ hospital as one of the 17 hospitals in the state to implement ‘sentinel surveillance’ for acute respiratory illnesses (ARI).
It also comes at a time when the air quality levels are depleting in the city and there is a possible rise in patients with respiratory disorders.
Owing to this, the respiratory medicine physicians are expecting a surge in asthma, chronic inflammatory lung disease, allergic rhinitis, and dry coughs triggered by air pollution soon after Diwali.
The medical education minister had directed all medical colleges in the state to take measures on the same.
In case of an increase in the number of respiratory patients, a separate patient room has also been reserved in the hospital, added the official.
However, amid an unseasonal and unexpected rains on Wednesday evening, November 8, there has been a slight improvement in the air quality today, November 9.
Earlier this week, the health department of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) held a meeting to discuss a mitigation plan for air pollution-related ailments.
Officials stated that they will keep a close watch on acute respiratory ailments. Moreover, doctors, and ward health officers are asked to notify if they see a rise. They are waiting for the state to send them formats on how to report on air pollution-related illness.
If experts are to be believed, the air quality index (AQI) has never been so bad in Mumbai.
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