ILOILO CITY, Nov. 11 (PIA-6) -- An international non-governmental organization (NGO) that works to transform health care worldwide is encouraging the health sector in Iloilo City to communicate the health effects of air pollution.

In a forum dubbed "Defending Public Health from Air Pollution" held recently at St. Paul's Hospital Iloilo, Ramon San Pascual, Executive Director of Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) Southeast Asia, said that air pollution is no longer just an environmental issue but a health concern as well.

"Air pollution is an acknowledged environmental issue by the World Health Organization (WHO) and has emerged as a leading cause of deaths across the world," he said.

He said that the health sector should also be in the forefront when it comes to combating air pollution, considering the negative effects of polluted air to children, women, and other vulnerable sectors of society.

Meanwhile, Paeng Lopez, Health Energy Initiative Campaigner of HCWH Southeast Asia, said that air pollution threatens everyone, particularly the poorest and the marginalized people.

"If we don't take urgent action on air pollution, we will never come close to achieving sustainable development," Lopez said, citing WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus.

He shared that air pollution is a silent killer, causing seven million deaths around the world every year.

"By reducing air pollution, countries can reduce stroke, heart diseases, and lung cancer, among others," he said.

He said that the most affected sectors by air pollution are children, women, and outdoor workers.

"Pneumonia is the leading cause of death in children under five years of age; while women working in smoky kitchens are exposed to high levels of household air pollution, and people who work outdoors such as street vendors and traffic enforcers are affected by air pollution," he added. (JBG/LTP/PIA-Iloilo)