New Delhi, 9th November 2018: The Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) is organizing an inter-school e-poster competition inviting entries that depict solutions to the problem of indoor air pollution. The last date for sending in the e-posters is 12th November 2018. Winners will be announced on 14th November 2018, which also marks Children’s Day in India. The best e-posters from each school will be uploaded on HCFI’s Facebook page. The entry with the maximum number of likes will be declared the winner and receive a cash prize of INR 11,000.
Indoor air pollution has emerged as a silent killer in India. According to statistics, it is the second largest killer causing about 1.3 million deaths in the country each year. This competition is part of HCFI’s campaign against this issue, which was flagged off ahead of the 25th Perfect Health Mela held in October 2018.
Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee, Dr KK Aggarwal, President, HCFI, said, “Educating and creating awareness among children is one of the first steps towards building a healthier future for the country. Children often come up with ideas and solutions that elders may not have thought of and this competition is a way to channel their thoughts towards the pertinent issue of indoor air pollution. We look forward to receiving some great entries and perhaps even find ways to implement them in the long run. The problem of indoor air pollution is a tricky one to solve. However, with concerted efforts, it is possible to come with up with solutions.”
Some side effects of exposure to indoor pollution include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. Apart from this, it can also cause heart diseases and cancer in the long term.
Adding further, Dr Aggarwal, who is also the Group Editor-in-Chief of IJCP, said, “Most people spend 85% of their life indoors — inside homes or offices, commercial or industrial buildings or schools and colleges. With the increasing incidence of respiratory illnesses in the country, it is imperative to be aware of the health hazards of indoor air pollution. The change must begin at the personal level.”
School students can mail their entries to hcfi.1986@gmail.com. For more information, they can contact Mr Yogesh Pant at 9350072209.
Some tips from HCFI
- Control moisture at home or in offices
- Use exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens
- Clean home appliances properly and control dust
- Keep carpets clean and dry. Wash pillows, blankets and bedding regularly at 60-degree Celsius
- Prefer wood, tile or linoleum flooring rather than fitted textile carpeting
- Vacuum cleaning or wet mopping must be preferred
- Open your windows open when cleaning, painting and installing new carpet
- Never burn charcoal indoors and do not keep burning heaters in closed rooms. Completely forbid smoking inside the house.
- Avoid dust-collecting textiles and furniture
- Avoid strong perfumes, aftershaves, deodorants and fragrant flowers inside the house
- Dr K K Aggarwa
