Financial soundness Indicators of BFIs in Nepal

Which is more severe: Corona or Pollution?

New researches in Harvard University shows that high death due to Coronavirus is linked with the highly polluted areas. T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that higher levels of the tiny, dangerous particles in air known as PM 2.5 were associated with higher death rates from the disease (Covid-19)  with the help of an analysis of researchers at the Harvard University,

“Patients with chronic lung and heart conditions caused or worsened by long-term exposure to air pollution are less able to fight off lung infections and more likely to die. This is likely also the case for Covid-19,” said Sara De Matteis, at Cagliari University, Italy, and a member of the environmental health committee of the European Respiratory Society. “By lowering air pollution levels we can help the most vulnerable in their fight against this and any possible future pandemics.”

Till today Coronavirus has taken the life of more than 100,000 people worldwide and more than 1.8 Million people are affected by the disease. It is so far one of the highest in terms of death by any epidemic or disease after world war in short time. But surprising, not higher than what people die anually due to ill health caused by presence of harmful substance in air. The origin place of Covid-19, China has the horrible air pollution and ranked number 11 by Air Quality Index 2019 and 48 Chinese cities feature among the top 100 most polluted cities of the world.. In the year 2017 China suffered around 1.2 Million deaths due to air pollution. The Hubei Province (Wuhan is the capital city of Hubei province) which is the place of origin of Covid-19 also suffers from severe air pollution. According to François Gemenne, director of The Hugo Observatory, which studies the interactions between environmental changes, human migration, and politics, more than 48,000 people die annually in France because of atmospheric pollution .Scientists estimate that the U.S. death toll from air pollution is more than 100,000 per year, the death toll in EU is about 4,00,000 each year from air pollution and the World Health Organization estimates the global toll about 7 million.

Likewise, it is believed that the Lockdown might have saved more lives by reduced pollution than threatened by the virus itself. A new analysis by a Stanford University scientist shows that China's coronavirus lockdown likely saved tens of thousands of lives by reducing air pollution. Earth System’s professor Michael Burke wrote in G-Feed, blog maintained by seven scientists working on Global Food, Environment and Economic Dynamics that two months of pollution reduction in China likely saved the lives of 4000 kids under 5 and 73,000 adults over 70 in China. The illustration of China can show similar condition for other pollution affected countries of world.

It can be inferred that the underlying reason of death is not the Coronavirus but the pollution in the atmosphere itself due to petrol and especially diesel vehicle fumes has affecting the respiratory system and ability to fight against virus like Covid-19.This can be better understood by the fact that the patients struck with previous Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome(SARS) in 2002 and 2003 and who lived in regions with moderate air pollution level were 84% more likely to die than those in regions with low air pollution shown by 2003 study. However more researches needs to be conducted to link the relationship between Covid-19 and pollution.

By lowering air pollution levels we can help the most vulnerable to fight against this and also against any possible future pandemics. According to world air quality report 2019, Nepal ranked eighth position out of other 88 countries in polluted air quality which is considered unhealthy for sensitive group which presents the risk for lungs and heart disease decreasing the strength to fight against Covid-19. Even though the age group of dependent population above 70yrs  is fewer in Nepal as compared to other countries, the increasing risk of respiratory diseases due to rising level of pollution can pose large number of population whether younger or elder at risk against global epidemics like Covid-19. Other than that, our health system also needs a drastic reform. It is an urgent need to take action to reduce pollution by restricting the old vehicles, setting limit of pollution for industries, government action on solid waste management, and promoting clean source of energy like electricity than fossil fuels.

 Nations whether developed or not should have tackled chronic air pollution long ago, but instead had focus on the economy over health by going lenient on pollution generating industries resulting the present situation. The developed countries which enjoys vast proportion of world resources should also have taken the major initiation in this regard. So only way to fighting off this type of epidemics from root is focusing on clean source of energy than fossil fuels and coals, developing proper standards for industries to control pollution in environment and investing more in clean environment. If we don’t change our way the pandemics like Covid-19 will occur with increasing frequency and with more severe consequences. So cleaning up the air with clean source of renewable energy is a basic investment for a healthier and sustainable future of present and future world.