Children’s Lung Health in Chandrapur Gets Focus as Ambuja Foundation and Punya Kaarya Foundation Launch Screening Project

The initiative will cover Korpana, Rajura and Jiwati blocks, using trained community health workers, the Lung Sakhi application, spirometry and specialist guidance to improve early detection and respiratory care.

Children’s Lung Health in Chandrapur Gets Focus as Ambuja Foundation and Punya Kaarya Foundation Launch Screening Project
Mumbai, November 4, 2026: Ambuja Foundation and Punya Kaarya Foundation have launched an Action Research Project to improve lung health among children in the Korpana, Rajura and Jiwati blocks of Chandrapur district, Maharashtra.
The initiative will focus on preventing respiratory disorders through community awareness, early identification, appropriate screening, timely referrals, treatment and continued care.
Ambuja Foundation currently works across 70 villages in these blocks, reaching approximately 40,000 people from underserved communities, including Scheduled Tribe populations.
The project aims to develop a community based approach to childhood respiratory healthcare, particularly in rural areas where early identification and access to specialised medical services can present challenges.

FOCUS ON CHILDHOOD RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS
The programme will create awareness about chronic lung diseases, asthma, allergies and tuberculosis.
It will also train community health workers to recognise respiratory symptoms, identify possible risk factors and guide families towards appropriate medical evaluation.
Respiratory infections are common among young children, making awareness and timely medical attention important components of the initiative.
The project will combine preventive education with screening, referral and treatment support.

LUNG SAKHI APPLICATION TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY SCREENING
A central component of the project is Lung Sakhi, a digital application designed to help trained community health workers screen children for potential lung health problems.
Sakhis will receive training in using the application and facilitating referrals for children who may require further medical assessment.
The initiative will also introduce training in spirometry, a method used to assess lung function, to support objective evaluation of children identified through community screening.
Ambuja Foundation and Punya Kaarya Foundation specialists will jointly prepare training manuals and educational curricula for Sakhis and frontline health workers.
Training will cover early symptom recognition, risk assessment, screening procedures, preventive practices and referral coordination.

MEDICINES, CLINICAL SUPPORT AND STANDARDISED CARE
The programme will work towards ensuring the availability of essential medicines, including appropriate inhaled medications, through community clinics.
Trained paramedical personnel will monitor medicine stocks to support continuity of care.
The project will also develop standardised clinical protocols, referral pathways and Standard Operating Procedures to guide respiratory healthcare delivery in rural settings.
A paediatric pulmonologist will provide technical guidance, training and clinical support.
Families will receive information about practical measures for protecting children’s respiratory health, along with appropriate pulmonary rehabilitation guidance where indicated.

AMBUJA FOUNDATION HIGHLIGHTS EARLY IDENTIFICATION
Chandrakant Kumbhani, CEO, Ambuja Foundation, said the project aims to improve awareness and access to appropriate respiratory healthcare in rural communities.
“Through this project in Chandrapur, we want to create awareness among people about the importance of lung health in children and emphasis that early identification and appropriate treatment can significantly improve outcomes.”
He also highlighted the partnership with Punya Kaarya Foundation and its focus on community health programmes.

PAEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGIST EXPLAINS LONG TERM RISKS
Dr Indu Khosla, Paediatric Pulmonologist and Founder Director, Punya Kaarya Foundation, drew attention to the importance of protecting developing lungs during childhood.
“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.”
She explained that respiratory health problems during childhood can affect lung development and increase the risk of chronic respiratory conditions later in life.
Dr Khosla also emphasised the importance of bringing preventive care, early detection and appropriate treatment closer to underserved rural communities.
Sunil Dhawan, Director, Punya Kaarya Foundation and CEO, SSF Plastics India Ltd., expressed support for the initiative and committed to supporting the project through Punya Kaarya Foundation.

POSSIBLE EXPANSION TO PUNJAB
Following the Chandrapur initiative, the two foundations plan to explore extending the Lung Sakhi Project to Ropar and Chandigarh in Punjab.
The proposed expansion would address communities facing similar respiratory health challenges.
Over the longer term, the organisations aim to develop a model that can be implemented in other underserved locations.
The proposed approach combines digital screening, trained community health workers, spirometry, specialist consultation, teleconsultation and continuous follow up.
Through the project, Ambuja Foundation and Punya Kaarya Foundation intend to improve access to childhood respiratory healthcare while building local capacity for prevention, identification and management of lung diseases.

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