Dr. Suryakant

I wish all of you a very happy and prosperous new year 2017. It is indeed a great pleasure and honor for me as the President of Indian Chest Society to write this message for public forum of ICS website.

I wish to congratulate, Editor of the Public Forum of ICS Dr. M. Sabir, past president, ICS for making tremendous efforts to create this facility for the convenience of general public. After its inception in 1980 at Mumbai, ICS has been the front line organization of qualified Chest Physicians of the country. The society has come a long way since then and now boasts over more than 2000 Chest Physicians on its roll. The Indian Chest Society aims to disseminate knowledge on Respiratory Medicine and to collate together periodically the chest medicine fraternity on a single podium.

Indian Chest Society is determined to act as a promoter for the academic and training activities not only for technical personnel but also for physicians in the field of Respiratory Medicine in the country.

In India 6 Crore people are suffering combined with COPD and bronchial asthma. The big five respiratory ailments accounting for maximum burden to society are – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),Bronchial asthma, Respiratory infections, Tuberculosis, and lung cancer .More than one Lakh patients of lung cancer are being diagnosed every year in our country.

Tobacco which was introduced in India in 16th century by Portuguese, is now responsible for about 40 types of cancer and 25 types of various other health ailments and causing about 10 lakhs death per year in our country. Indoor smoke as well as inhaled occupational exposures through farming, mining, construction, transportation and manufacturing pose risks for COPD globally. Genetic predisposition, exposure to environmental allergens, air pollution, dietary factors like fast food and junk food all promote the development of asthma and other allergic disorder.

The key mantra of preventive medicine – “Prevention is better than cure” hold true for respiratory illness as well. Public awareness and control of the environment are important steps in preventing respiratory diseases. The key controllable factors are reduction in tobacco smoking and improvement in air quality, which includes reduction in second-hand tobacco smoke (passive smoking), environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), smoke from indoor , and unhealthy public and workplace air. Strengthening immunization programs must be prioritized in low-income countries. Improved nutrition, especially in pregnant women and children, can have long-term benefits.Prevention and timely treatment of HIV can have a major impact in reducing the burden of respiratory illness. The challenges are myriad and the road is tough. But we will leave no stone unturned to accomplish our aims:

“Arise, Awake and stop not until your goals are achieved”
By : Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902)