Gurugram: With air pollution remaining a persistent concern in Gurugram and changing weather conditions adding to respiratory health risks, Silver Streak Multi-speciality Hospital organised a free Respiratory Screening Camp at its Sector 87 facility. The camp witnessed participation from hundreds of people arriving from different parts of Gurugram, underlining the growing need for accessible respiratory healthcare and awareness.
The need for such initiatives is reinforced by the city’s air quality record. According to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), Gurugram’s annual average PM2.5 concentration remained between 88 and 104 micrograms per cubic metre during 2021–2024, significantly higher than the national annual standard of 40 micrograms per cubic metre. The city’s annual average Air Quality Index (AQI) also ranged from 189 to 217 during these years. Against this backdrop, the hospital organised the camp to encourage early assessment, improve awareness about pollution-related respiratory risks and make specialist consultation and lung health screening more accessible to the community.
The camp offered free registration, consultation with a pulmonologist and complimentary Pulmonary Function Tests (PFT) to assess lung health. Participants had the opportunity to consult a specialist, understand possible respiratory concerns and receive guidance on the importance of timely screening. The initiative was particularly relevant for people experiencing persistent cough, wheezing or breathlessness, as well as senior citizens and individuals with existing respiratory conditions.
Dr. Ayush Pandey, MBBS, MD (Respiratory Medicine), Consultant Pulmonologist at Silver Streak Multi-speciality Hospital, led the clinical consultations and provided guidance on respiratory health. A special awareness session was also organised for senior citizens, focusing on the effects of changing weather, rising pollution and environmental factors on lung health. The discussion covered common respiratory symptoms, preventive measures and the importance of seeking medical advice instead of dismissing persistent breathing difficulties as routine seasonal problems.
Dr. Ayush Pandey said, “Changes in weather and increasing pollution can have a significant impact on respiratory health, particularly among senior citizens and people who already have conditions such as asthma or COPD. Symptoms like persistent coughing, wheezing and breathlessness should not be ignored or treated as routine seasonal problems. Timely consultation and lung function assessment can help identify concerns and guide appropriate treatment. Awareness and early evaluation are important steps towards protecting long-term lung health.”
The encouraging response to the camp highlighted the importance of taking preventive healthcare directly to communities. For hundreds of participants, it provided an opportunity to get their lung health assessed, undergo a PFT and seek expert medical advice without having to bear the usual registration, consultation and test charges.
