Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Rupinder Singh, while inaugurating the programme, told Newsline that it was a necessary step given the working condition of the cops. “The number of vehicles in the city has increased manifold in the last two decades. They spew large amounts of pollutants into the city’s environment, affecting the commuters and the policemen alike. But it is worse for the policemen posted at the intersections,” Singh said on the occasion.

The programme will include regular check-up, diagnosis and treatment of traffic policemen who often contract respiratory and other ailments while performing duty at highly polluted traffic junctions.

The programme kicked off with Dr Dinesh Goyal, Consultant Pulmonologist, Bronchoscopist and chest specialist, organising an educative workshop at Police Lines for the traffic policemen.

“Eye problems, throat infection, respiratory discomfort, skin diseases, impaired hearing, chest diseases, excessive carboxyhaemoglobin, and annoyance with noise are some of the ailments they suffer from. Of the three million premature deaths in the world due to outdoor and indoor air pollution, India has the highest,” Dr Goyal said.

A free Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) was also conducted through a portable PFT machine on the occasion. The periodic check-up of the policemen will be conducted every Sunday in groups of 50. “We are planning to profile the respiratory problems among the policemen and conduct chest X-rays and other vital tests, the data of which will be available soon. We have also suggested them to wear masks on duty,” said Dr Goyal. Dr SP Singh, the chief operating officer of the SPS Apollo Hospital, also distributed free anti-pollution masks to the policemen.