The Hanoi Department of Health has just issued an official dispatch on implementing urgent measures to respond to the air pollution forecast in late November and early December in the Hanoi area and neighboring provinces.
Before the forecast of increased air pollution in late November and prolonged in December, the health sector has synchronously deployed many solutions to protect public health and reduce PM2.5 fine dust exposure.
According to records from environmental monitoring stations in recent days, air quality in Hanoi has been continuously at a bad and very bad level, especially in the early morning and at night. PM2.5 fine dust levels often exceed the allowable threshold, significantly affecting health, especially for children, the elderly and people with underlying diseases. Dry weather, few winds and temperaturevers are considered the reasons for more complicated air pollution in the coming time.
The Department of Health requires public and non-public health units to organize community activities such as environmental sanitation, tree planting, waste collection and treatment based on actual local conditions.
Joining hands to reduce plastic waste by practical actions such as saying no to non-degradable plastic bags and disposable plastic products; promoting the recovery, recycling and reuse of non-degradable plastic bags and disposable plastic products.
At the same time, encourage consumers to use environmentally friendly products; hang banners, slogans and implement solutions to reduce air pollution, limit exposure to PM2.5 fine dust in public areas, streets, and agency headquarters.
Health units must comply with regulations on collection, classification, storage and handover of waste, especially plastic waste and medical waste. In addition, it is necessary to commend and reward organizations, individuals and businesses that have made effective contributions to the rational use of resources, environmental protection and climate change response. Coordinated activities to propagate and implement solutions to reduce air pollution need to be maintained regularly.
The Hanoi City Center for Disease Control is assigned as a focal point to guide and urge units to implement and report to the Department of Agriculture and Environment and the Department of Health according to regulations.
The Department of Health also requested the People's Committees of wards and communes to direct the Health Stations to coordinate with relevant units to organize activities in response to World Environment Day, World Ocean Day... and deploy solutions to reduce air pollution and PM2.5 fine dust exposure in the locality.
At the same time, directly or online communication on improving environmental quality, protecting people's health, adapting to climate change; saying no to non-degradable plastic bags, disposable plastic products; increasing the recovery, recycling and reuse of non-degradable plastic bags, disposable plastic products; encouraging people to use environmentally friendly products.
To proactively take health protection measures, the health sector recommends that people take the following measures:
Limit going out during times of heavy pollution, especially early morning and late night.
Wearing a standard mask that can filter PM2.5 fine dust when traveling on the road.
Close the door, use an air purifier if possible.
Keep your nose and throat clean, drink enough water, increase nutrition to increase resistance.
People with respiratory and cardiovascular diseases need to comply with treatment, monitor symptoms and go to medical facilities when there are unusual signs.
Monitor daily air quality through applications to adjust living and working schedules accordingly.
Experts warn that PM2.5 fine dust can penetrate deep into the lungs, enter the blood and cause many dangerous diseases such as respiratory infections, stroke, cardiovascular disease, etc.
Therefore, the proactiveness of each citizen contributes significantly to minimizing the impact of air pollution on public health.
