URBANISATION, HEALTH PROBLEMS AND REMEDIES

URBANISATION, HEALTH PROBLEMS AND REMEDIES

Prof. (Dr) A. K. Mahapatra

SOADU, IMS & SUM Hospital, Bhubaneswar

INTRODUCTION:-

Over last 100 years, the total pollution of the earth  has increased several times. In 2000 population of the world was less than 7 Billion and in 22 years time 1 billion is added to total population and in 100 years sea level has rosen by 4-5 cms and temperature has gone up by 40C . This is all because of population explosion and industrialization. In year 1800 population of world was 10 crore 35 Lacks and 90th. Thus there is a continuous flow of population from rural to urban, observed across the world table.

TABLE – I

World Population and % of Urban Pollution

Problem it create: - General feeling people lead a happy and comfortable life, and concept is ironical. With increase population lead to scarcity consumer products, non availability of water and many more. Housing is also a major problem in cities, and houses are high cost and rent. A 1 bed room house is not affordable by large number of people, and a major problem in cities.

TABLE II

I remember How, severe was scarcity of water at Delhi. In hostel and even staff quarters, water was only available 5-6 hours a day. Three hours in morning 6am – 9am, one hour in after noon 1-2pm and 6.30pm-7.30pm in evening. This is only a tip of the iceberg and the situation is most privileged campus like AIIMS, New Delhi, No 1 Medical Institute in India, and more importantly No – 5 Medical University in the world, baring Harvard University, Eales University, Mayo Clinic and Cambridge University.

Large number of slums are seen in cities, in fact slum seen in cities are not seen in village. There the pollution due to cooking and sewerage water are not treating scientifically and pollute both air and the land leading to food and water contamination, which are potent cause of communicable diseases.

Recent survey has shown that unemployment is much higher that rural population. Need for more money and relation higher expending situation people do reserve to crime and theft which is much higher in urban areas as compared to rural counter parts. Intensive industrialization and urban growth lead to poverty. Poverty and need for more, many leads to crime. There is also mal - adjustment and sleep problems in urban area due to several causes.

Fig – 1 :- Air Pollution – smoke from Industry.

Fig – 2:- Air Pollution – due to Dust storm.

Human development is related to urbanization and percaita income and job generation. However, over the decades socio cultural fabrics got disturbed. More importantly many workers travel from village to cities daily and come back, this takes hours to commute and also lead to a pollution due to vehicular traffic. On the other hand it decrease the interest in agriculture and difficulty in getting Agriculture workers are they are better paid and towns and cities. (Create)

TABLE - III

Cause of Health Hazards

Impact of Urbanization in India:-

In India, rapid urbanization has been observed over last 50 years. Initially post independent the percapito income was low very and there were only few large or medium industry. Most of the heavy industry, in steel and iron, coal, aluminum and other agriculture related, fertilizer and pesticide industry have come up. Over last 40 years automobile industry rapidly changed the vehicular population and vehicular density. Taking Delhi as an example, before Maruti Company in mid 1980s, and now the population rise by 4-5 times 5million to 22 million but vehicle have gone forms. ½ a million to 20 million which includes four and two wheeler vehicles. Which has made Delhi, the most polluted city in the world? Take the example of Delhi and extra polluting to other metros is India, in a recent review out of 20 most polluted cities is world and in India 6-7(33%) in India. Even beautiful cities like Bangalore and Hyderabad have air pollution and water contamination.

Water Pollution from Drain :- Drain water mixing with pond or River.

 Most of the large river and lake are polluted, starting from Ganga from Haridwar, to Jamuna and lakes like Bellandur in Bangalore and Hosani sagar lake water so polluted it is not condussive for fish, what to say about human consumption? Over last 15-20 year we have been feeling impact of urbanization in India, be it Delhi, Mumbai or Bangalore. Even in small cities like PURI, Bhubaneswar the water in ponds is highly polluted.

Role of Co2, Co3 (Green house Gasses):-

(Fig- 1)                                                                  (Fig – 2)

Fig – 1 :- Air Pollution – smoke from Industry.

Fig – 2:- Air Pollution – due to Dust strom.

Smoke and carbon emission has tremendously increase carbon count. World congress on environment since 1991 have continuously emphasized the environmental degradation.   The pollar ice cap due rising temperature, submerging, of islands and island cities like Java, Jakarta and many more have belled the warming signs, that has lead the world communities to think of reduction in carbon count and healing the ozen hole. Paris declaration (2015) and Rio declaration (1991) have highlighted the need by the head of the states to take necessary preventing steps before it is too late. Addressing G2O and earth summit our beloved PM assured that India will reduce carbon emission, as an moral ob ligation for the future generation.

We all have seen movement by environment activist and more importantly young children like Greta Thunbeng. She was the youngest child activist, born in Sweden 2003. She started her movement at a age of 15year, for which received many international awards, like Time 25 most influential teens of 2018, Swedish woman of the year 2019, Rachel Carson prize, March 2019, Hon PhD (Honoris Cousa)2019, Laudato Si Prize, 2019, Pritt ord Award – 2019 and many more. Most importantly Nomination in has 2019 for Nobel peace Prize. All these highlight how concern the younger generation about the environmental pollution, which head of the states do not realize nor work towards achieving the goals.

Preventive Measure:-

1. Preventive of population shift from rural to Urban by generating job in rural area and boosting the modern agriculture which become economically viable and profitable.
2. Providing adequate infrastructure in cities.
3. Banning the polluting vehicles and consumption of clean energy, electrical solar vehicles, bio fuel and bio diesel, using non conventional energies. Closing of the polluting Thermal plants generating electricity. In 2023 it was notice most countries in Europe are closing down therma plants generating electricity.
4. Using public transport for community, like local train, metro and tram system.
5. Developing waste management system few water treatment plant and solid waste management.
6. Covering of open and underground sewerage system and adequately treated sewage to state IV stage V treatment, So that it can be used for horticulture, agriculture or even house hold use.
7. Removing Polluting industry from cities in a phased manner.
8. As early as 2002 in Stockholm in a phased manner, Govt implicated ecological and environment friendly housing and construction work and Robust public Transport system.
9. Public education to prevent pollution.
10. World summit on sustainable development at Johannesburg (2002) Emphasized protection of environment as a key factor.

Conclusion:-

It is a vast subject, however, I have tried to pick up few relevant points to highlight the needs to understand urban problem an environment vs Human Health and disease. It is important for all of us and more importantly for future generation. UN, WHO, UNICEF, (UNEP) and head of the states, NGO and all the citizens of the world, irrespective of religion, language, place and culture. We must all work together to save  mother earth and protect the rights of future generation.

TABLE III PREVENTIVE

1. Globally
2. At the level of the country
3. At city administration
4. By the public

REFERENCES

1. Hidaya Alioache, Emily Hendenson, Medical News (Life scheme) urbanization and Human Heath. www.new, mel.nel2023 
2. KuddusMA, JynanE, Mc Bryde E. Urbanization: a pattern for the rich and the poor? Public Health Review 2020-116-20
3. Zhang Z, Zhao M, Zhangy etal Frontier act public Health 2022 does Urbanization affect Public Health? New evidences from 175 countries.

Prof. (Dr.) Ashok Kumar Mahapatra was born at PURI on 29.12.1952. His father was Mr. Naba kishore Mahapatra and Mother, Dinamani Devi, stayed at a Brahmin Village (Sasan) near PURI. In child – hood they had a simple life. However, they had landed and the family belongs to the advisor to PURI King (Gajapati Maharaja)shifted to MKCG Medical College in 1970, where he completed MBBS in 1975. MS and MCh Neuro Surgery from AIIMS Delhi. From 1983 – 2017 he worked as a faculty of Neuro Surgery at AIIMs Delhi. In 1996 March he joined as Professor and 2004 as a Senior Professor. He was appointed Director, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow in 2006 and Director AIIMS Bhubneshwar in 2012. He retired as Dean Research, AIIMS New Delhi, after spending nearly 42 years at AIIMS. Currently he is working as Vice-Chancellor at SOA University, (Deemed to be University), at Bhubneswar.
During his tenure at AIIMs, he published 870 papers, wrote 16 Books and more than 140 chaptered. In last 30 years he conducted over 20 research projects and received over 10 crores as research grant. He guided 12 PhD students during his tenure at AIIMs. During1998 - 2008 he had 3rd highest Medical Publication in India and highest no of publications at AIIMS. He has 870 publications with more than 13,500 citations and H index 50 and I 10 index 355 (enclosed)
During his illustrious carrier he had worked as Director of SGPGI for 3yr (2006-2009). During 3years he had successfully completed more than 10-12 projects and started and completed 2nd phase of SGPGI (2006-2009) during which he received Budget worth of 1000crores. Completed. (1) School of Telemedicine 2) Liver Transplant Centre 3) BMT centre 4) Advanced Pediatric
centre 5) PMSSY Building 6) Nursing College 7) College of Medical Technology 8) During his tenure library block, convention centre complex, Trauma Centre construction started and completed. PMSSY building started and completed, 1st to get completed project of PMSSY in India (2007-2008). During his tenure 6no depts started in SGPGI. A) Hospital Administration 2) Pediatric Surgery 3) Pulmonary Medicine 4) Maternity and reproductive health 5) Neonatology and 6) Molecular Medicine. The work and progress made at SGPGI during 2006-2009was un-parallel.
He was the founder Director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar, started 2012. Starting from Scratch, MBBS, BSC (Nursing Hons), PG and DM, MCh was started in a 4yrs period between 2012-2016. He also started BSc. (Hons) Medical Technology at AIIMS Bhubaneswar – 2015.
In last 40 years Dr. Mahapatra received many awards, (award 65) delivered 15 Orations and received many life time achievement awards. A fellow of National Academy of Science, and member and Academy fo Medical Science. He started Neurological Surgeon Society of India (NSSI) in 2010 became the founder President. He also started Indian Society of Peripheral Nerve surgery 2011 and was the founder President. He contributed heavily to the development of Pediatric Neuro surgery (1989-2012) Neuro trauma (1991-2014) and skull base surgeon society in India (1988-2008) and Peripheral Nerve Surgery (2010-2018). Thus he has been architect of developing super specialization in India staying as a faculty at AIIMS Delhi over 37 years.
In 2016, Dr. A.K.Mahapatra after completing 4 years and 3 months as Director at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, went back to AIIMS, New Delhi, and took over Chief Neuro Science Centre. In January 2017 he was appointed as Dean Research at AIIMS by MoH. Govt. of India, which he continued till December 2017 till his superannuation.
In 2017, he along with his team operated Jaga and Kalia (Balia) conjoint twin (Craniopagus), successfully and both baby survived. Overall 12 such operations done in the world from 1987 to till 2017. It was the first reported successful operation in India. He came back to Odisha and took over Director of Hospital
serves in March 2018. Since joining at IMS & SUM Hospital, Bone marrow Transplant, liver transplant and kidney transplant started.
It was also instrumented in starting B.Sc. (Hons.) Medical Technology, in many places in India, SGPGI 2006-2009, AIIMS Bhubaneswar, 2015- 2016, and IMS & SUM Hospital 2018-2019.
Established the Bone Marrow Transplant Centre, Liver Transplant Centre, Advanced Nursing College, Pediatric Centre, Trauma Centre and Hematology Centre at SGPGI (2006-2009). In last 3 years many DM, MCh started at IMS & SUM Hospital took over as Vice Chancellor of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University in March 2020. During last 1 year and 3 months lot of work done for Covid19. In 1st wave (2020) 2320 beds for Covid19 and 2nd wave (2021) 2661 beds for Covid19 patients in six different towns of Odisha. Largest being at IMS & SUM Hospital, Bhubaneswar, 750 beds with 150 ICU beds.
Started doing PCR for Covid19 in May 2020 and Covaxin trial at IMS & SUM Hospital in 2020 July – March 2021. Free Vaccine Centre for Covid19 (Covaxin) vaccine since January 2021, Now paid vaccine Covishield since May 2021.