Its a really interesting topic that Eco-generation has given this time. "What Can I do with my Major?". So, here are my thoughts.

I am a medical student and we spend a major chunk of our time studying and visiting clinics. When I pondered about environmental issues related to my field (I initially thought there were none), I found that there are some issues and I would like to point out a few here.

A doctor is not only committed just in treating the patients that come to him, but he also has to advocate preventive measures and take care of the health of the community as a whole. A public health outbreak can endanger many lives and will also lead to heavy losses and needs to be avoided.

A majority of public health problems surface due to Pollution. Pollution and contamination of water supplies can lead to water borne diseases like Typhoid, etc.

Collection of water and contaminated water in areas can boost growth of mosquitoes, causing diseases like Malaria, Dengue, etc.

Also, when harmful carcinogens, chemicals, etc contaminate water bodies, soil, etc, it could enter man through the vegetables, water, etc and deposit in the body causing Cancers and other deadly diseases in the future.

So, as a health professional with awareness and knowledge about these issues and the health hazards, I need to advocate for policies, create awareness, etc that reduce incidence of such public health problems.

This could have points similar to point (1).

Medical wastes include used syringes, blood stained items, cotton, clothes, anatomical wastes, medicine bottles, etc.

They need to be properly disposed by proper management, etc because they could contain chemicals and also maybe deadly viruses, etc which if left in open could pollute the environment and harm public health.

In places where there are no management systems, it needs to be urgently created.

In Kerala, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) of doctors has made special factories for management of medical waste from nearly all hospitals in Kerala.

These are the two problems I got when I thought over it. Any from your side? Feel free to comment! :D

Image:

http://www.mountsinaidoctors.org/