Paediatricians and health experts across Goa are raising a red flag over the dangerously poor air quality in areas like Porvorim and Panaji. They warn that the pervasive dust and pollution, largely from ongoing infrastructure projects, are not just disrupting children's lives today but are setting the stage for severe, chronic health problems that could persist well into their adulthood.
Severe AQI and Direct Health Impacts
Open-source data recently revealed a frightening snapshot of the problem. On a Saturday evening, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Porvorim soared past 240, pushing it into the 'severe' category. This toxic air is directly translating into a health crisis for the youngest residents. Dr Dhanesh Volvoikar, a former head of paediatrics at Mapusa’s Asilo Hospital who now runs an allergy clinic in Porvorim, has observed a direct correlation. He notes that his clinic is seeing children who were directly exposed to dust from Smart City works in Panaji and the flyover construction at Porvorim.
"We are witnessing cases of asthma, which had been well-controlled for years, suddenly flaring up again. This resurgence is directly related to the dust pollution in Porvorim," Dr Volvoikar stated. He emphasized the heightened vulnerability of the younger generation, noting that approximately one in ten children now suffers from wheezing issues. Without proper control through inhalation therapy and avoidance of persistent pollutants like dust and passive smoke, these children risk developing permanent lung scarring and a high future risk of chronic asthma.
A Statewide Warning from Medical Experts
The alarm is not confined to a single clinic. Paediatricians statewide are echoing this urgent concern. Dr Nathaniel Pinto of Manipal Hospitals cautioned that failure to control air and dust pollution will lead to increased long-term morbidity. The consequences, he outlined, are multifaceted and severe: more frequent childhood illnesses, a rise in hospitalisations, increased need for nebulisation, restrictions on physical activity, more missed school days, and ultimately, reduced future productivity.
"If the quality of air they’re breathing is bad, we may see more children entering adulthood with asthma," Dr Pinto warned. He illustrated the point with a harrowing case of a four-year-old boy living next to the Porvorim flyover construction. The child, with no prior history, developed wheezing and required an inhaler only after the digging work began. After three severe episodes requiring nebulisation, doctors had to initiate long-term inhaler therapy to control the condition.
Changing Disease Patterns and a Call for Action
The shift in childhood ailments is stark, according to senior doctors. Dr Ira Almeida, a senior paediatrician and former director of health services, recalled that paediatric outpatient departments (OPDs) were once dominated by infections like pneumonia, typhoid, and malaria, with only a handful of asthma cases. "Today, these infectious diseases have decreased, but children with respiratory complaints now constitute half or even more of the OPD cases," she noted.
Dr Almeida pointed to the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns as an unintentional but revealing experiment. The marked drop in wheezing cases during that period, when air pollution levels fell, underscores the man-made nature of the current crisis. Dr Volvoikar called it exactly that—a "man-made trigger." While acknowledging the necessity of development work, he insisted it must be done responsibly. "The government has to take action to control the dust. Roads shouldn’t be dug up and left open for months together. They need to be covered immediately," he urged.
The repercussions extend beyond breathing difficulties. Dr Poonam Sambhaji, another Porvorim-based paediatrician, highlighted how bad air affects overall child development. Persistent wheezing and coughing impair a child's ability to eat properly, leading to poor weight gain and nutrition. Furthermore, their quality of life and education suffer as they are often unable to attend school.
The collective message from Goa's medical community is clear: the unchecked air pollution is an urgent public health emergency for children. It demands immediate and stringent mitigation measures from authorities to protect the long-term health of the state's future generation.
