In the backdrop of the high pollution level in Delhi’s air, N95 pollution masks were distributed to patients for free at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.
The patients particularly suffering with the respiratory ailments were the beneficiaries. The hospital tends to reach out to about 1,000 patients within a week. About 1,000 N95 masks will be distributed to the patients. The masks were distributed under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by “Blueair” which aims to reach maximum number of people with the “on-ground” approach. The initiative aimed to create awareness about the impending disaster of ever deteriorating air quality.
“It’s a health crisis situation in the Capital. It is our aim to reach out to maximum number people in this need of the hour and ensure their safety, especially those who are amongst the most vulnerable, The overall idea behind this initiative is to ensure that people are not exposed to toxic level of air pollution and help patients at least ‘breathe’, who gasp for breath due to high pollution level,” said Arvind Chabra, India Head, Blueair.
“Patients who already are battling with issues related to lung and other such problems are more likely to have their condition worsened with the extreme pollution levels which could be even life-threatening for them. Taking precautionary measures like putting mask can help them breathe better and reduce the exposure to toxic ambient air. Such initiatives are very crucial in current times when weather condition has deteriorated to such dangerous levels,” said Dr Rajeev Sood, Dean, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.
Dr Sood also said that N95 masks help in filtering particles greater than 0.3 mm in size and thus filters about 99 percent of particulate matter. He said that particulate matters are able to penetrate through blood vessels and reach kidney, brain and other organs apart from lungs. “Due to which kidney failure occurs at an early age and other vital organs like brain are affected,” said Dr Sood.