Ambuja Foundation, in partnership with Punya Kaarya Foundation, has launched an Action Research Project in Korpana, Rajura and Jiwati blocks of Chandrapur, Maharashtra, to prevent lung health disorders among children through awareness, prevention, early identification, timely treatment and long-term management of respiratory diseases.
Ambuja Foundation works in 70 villages across these blocks, reaching approximately 40,000 people from underserved communities, including Scheduled Tribe populations. Respiratory infections are common in young children. Building a community-based lung health model, the project aims to create awareness about chronic lung diseases, asthma, allergies and tuberculosis while building community capacity for prevention, early identification, referral and treatment.
Specialists and programme teams from Ambuja Foundation and Punya Kaarya Foundation will develop training manuals and educational curricula for Sakhis and frontline health workers. Capacity-building programmes focus on identifying risk factors, recognising early symptoms, undertaking appropriate screening, promoting preventive measures and facilitating timely treatment.
A key component of the initiative is Lung Sakhi, a digital application developed to enable trained community health workers to screen children for potential lung health problems and facilitate appropriate referral. Sakhis will be trained in the use of the application as well as in spirometry, enabling objective assessment of children identified through community screening.
An important component of the model will be ensuring access to essential medicines, including appropriate inhaled medications, through community clinics. Stock availability will be regularly monitored by trained paramedical personnel.
Standardised protocols, referral pathways and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) will be developed to ensure consistent and quality delivery of respiratory healthcare in rural settings. A paediatric pulmonologist will provide technical guidance, training and clinical support for the programme. The project will also promote simple, practical measures that families can undertake at home, including respiratory health education and appropriate pulmonary rehabilitation strategies where indicated.
Speaking about the project, Mr. Chandrakant Kumbhani, CEO, Ambuja Foundation, said: “Ambuja Foundation is committed to bringing positive change in the lives of rural communities. Through this project in Chandrapur, we want to create awareness among people about the importance of lung health in children and emphasise that early identification and appropriate treatment can significantly improve outcomes. We share strong synergies with Punya Kaarya Foundation and together, we aspire to drive inclusive and meaningful health programmes at the grassroots level.”
Dr. Indu Khosla, Paediatric Pulmonologist and Founder Director, Punya Kaarya Foundation, said: “Children’s lungs are still developing, making early-life exposures particularly important. Children also spend considerable time outdoors and may therefore be exposed to air pollution and other environmental risk factors. Poor lung health during childhood can have consequences that extend well into adult life, including impaired lung growth and an increased risk of chronic respiratory disease. This project is an important step towards bringing early detection, appropriate treatment and preventive lung care closer to rural communities.”
Mr. Sunil Dhawan, Director, Punya Kaarya Foundation and CEO, SSF Plastics India Ltd., expressed his support for the initiative and committed to fully supporting the project through Punya Kaarya Foundation.
Following the Chandrapur initiative, Ambuja Foundation and Punya Kaarya Foundation plan to explore extending the Lung Sakhi Project to Ropar and Chandigarh in Punjab, where communities face similar respiratory health challenges.
The long-term vision is to build a replicable community-based model that combines technology, trained community health workers, spirometry, specialist expertise, teleconsultation and continuous follow-up to improve lung health outcomes for children in underserved communities.
