Pahle India Foundation successfully hosted the first international conference on lead poisoning in India, titled "Lead Poisoning in India: Status, Challenges, and Way Forward." Held at The Oberoi Hotel in New Delhi, the event brought together over 60 experts, policymakers, scientists, doctors, and representatives from multilateral institutions across India, the US, and Bangladesh.
Inaugurated by Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, former WHO Chief Scientist and Chairperson of MSSRF, and Sweety L Changsan, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the conference launched five research reports addressing various aspects of lead poisoning. These reports were developed by Pahle India Foundation in collaboration with its partners.
The hybrid event shed light on the often-overlooked issue of lead poisoning, with panellists discussing its prevalence, sources, challenges in testing, and the latest research and innovations aimed at combating this public health crisis. The discussions emphasised the need for a collaborative, multisectoral approach to effectively tackle the issue.
A 2020 report by UNICEF and Pure Earth highlighted that 275 million Indian children have lead levels exceeding the WHO’s intervention threshold of 5 μg/dL. In 2019, lead exposure was linked to an average loss of 6.7 IQ points per child and a significant economic impact, contributing to a USD 93 million loss in GDP. The Lancet reported in 2023 that lead poisoning also resulted in the deaths of over 1 million adults from cardiovascular issues.
Supported by Open Philanthropy and Vital Strategies as knowledge partners, the conference featured keynote speeches, including one from Prof. Philip J. Landrigan, a renowned expert on lead from Boston College. Dr. Bhushan, Chair of the India Working Group on Lead Poisoning and Distinguished Fellow at Pahle India Foundation, highlighted the lack of awareness about lead poisoning in India, especially among healthcare professionals, citing a recent survey in Jharkhand as an example.
Dr. Swaminathan emphasized the need for a holistic approach, stating, "80 per cent of our health depends on factors outside health sectors, like housing, air, sanitation, etc. It will take a whole systems approach to deal with a health issue like lead poisoning—it is not up to the Health Ministry alone but will require a multisectoral approach."
Notable panelists included Dr. Howard Hu, Professor at the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California; Dr. M Srinivas, Director of AIIMS New Delhi; and Dr. Santasabuj Das, Director of ICMR-NIOH. The panels were chaired by Dr. Rajiv Kumar, Chairman of Pahle India Foundation and former Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog, and Dr. Indu Bhushan.
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