New digital pollen count board at VCPI opens

New Delhi: The Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute (VPCI) in the city has become the first-ever institute in the country to have a daily digital pollen information display board, which will indicate daily pollen count for the public.

The board, which will help raise awareness and prevention of pollen induced allergy and respiratory attacks in the city, was inaugurated by Union health minister J.P. Nadda on Monday. 

 “While pollution has almost always been known as the culprit for respiratory problems, airborne pollens can also have a major impact on our respiratory systems. The digital display board at the institute will help create awareness about pollen being a common; in fact it is one of the major reasons for repeating attacks in asthma patients,” said Dr Raj Kumar, director (acting), VPCI, and HoD, pulmonary medicine and VP Chest Institute, University, Delhi

He added that it would also enable people with chronic allergies to be better prepared for a dusty or a polleny day on the road. 

“Especially in the spring when things get dustier and more dry, the number of pollen induced allergy cases increases steadily,” Dr KUmar said. 

Having a pollen count station can be crucial for such patients as they beforehand can check pollen count status in the vicinity and take necessary steps to avoid exposure," he said. 

Mr Nadda also stressed that the VPCI should help develop some innovative policies to tackle tuberculosis and to develop public awareness programs for prevention and treatment of chest diseases. He added that the institute should have collaborative research work with other institutes of reputes. 

The institute is a primary source of in-depth research on the causes of increasing rate of respiratory diseases in the national capital.