19th MTNL Perfect Health Mela formally opens


Inaugurating the Mela, Dr. Ashok Walia, Hon’ble Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Delhi said that to reduce the menace of increasing lifestyle disorders in the society, we must say no to junk food and avoid eating a combination of white sugar, white rice and white maida. He said that one should not use trans-fat in the diet as it can lead to abdominal obesity.

Dr. Walia emphasized regarding heart diseases in the city and said

1. About 50 people die of heart disease every day in Delhi itself. Delhi Government has planned to reduce this in the city.
3. It has already banned Gutka.
4. It has started diabetic and hypertension control programmes,
5. It is working against the supply of junk food in schools and is educating about the concept of exercise in schools.
6. The Government also has a school health scheme for the examination of school children.
7. For kidney patients, it has a free dialysis programme.
8. For BPL heart patients, Delhi Government provides free angioplasty and bypass surgery and the Government is enforcing free beds for heart patients in private hospitals, which have received free or concessional land from the Government.

Dr. T. Meniya, Member of Parliament said that emphasis on the role of exercise in day to day life should be given. He said that even simple walking can make all the difference. In her message to the Mela, Smt. Sheila Dixit, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Delhi, said that for combating lifestyle disorders, the public health education is the only answer. Smt. Savita Gupta, Hon’ble Mayor, South MCD in her message said that meditation and prayer are part and parcel of healthy lifestyle. Acharya Dr. Sadhvi Sadhna Ji Maharaj, Chairperson World Fellowship of Religions emphasized on the role of Mantra meditation.

Delivering the presidential address, Padma Shri & Dr. BC Roy National Awardee, Dr. KK Aggarwal, President Heart Care Foundation of India, said that the Government should think of limiting the quantity of trans fats in the hotel industry. He also said that education should be created amongst school children about the hazards of eating trans fats. Talking about dengue menace, Dr. Aggarwal said that all school children should be given home work to check for dengue breeding in their respective houses and neighbourhood.

Other eminent personalities who gave their messages were – Shri AK Garg, CMD MTNL, Shri Suman Mukherjee, Director, SAIL, Shri AP Frank Noronha, DG DAVP, Shri SS Gupta, Dev. Commissioner Handicrafts, Govt.. of India, Padma Shri Awardee Alok Mehta Editor National Dunya, Sh Rajiv Ranjan Srivastava Editor Deshbandhu, Sh Anil Ganeriwala Joint Secretary, AYUSH, Govt. of India, Shri Satish Kumar, ED, Indian Oil, Shri R. Chandra Mohan, Pr. Secretary-cum-Commissioner, Transport Department, Shri Sanjiv Kumar, Secretary, Dept of Environment, Shri AP Singh, Zonal Manager(North), LIC, Shri GG Saxena, CMD DTDC, Shri BP Singh, Advisor & Head, RVPSP, DST, Shri Rajiv Kale, Director WCD, Dr. M Sudhakar, Scientist G, Ministry of Earth Science, Shri Sanjay Kumar, Secretary (Environment & Forest), Shri Deepak Jolly, Vice President Coca Cola Ltd., Shri R.C. Daka, Director AIIMS, Shri Vivek Kumar, Trustee, Brij Rma Foundation, Shri KS Rao, Jt. Secy., MOHFW, GoI, Dr. A K Aggarwal, President, DMC, Sh Satish Goell Chairman Mujaffar Nagar Medical College, Dr Harish Gupta, President, DMA, Shri Sandeep Marwah, Chairman, AAFT, Shri Rajender Gupta, Former Transport Minister Delhi, Shri Satish Upadhayay, Chairman Education Committee, MCD South Zone and Dr V K Khanna President IAHP.

Celebrities who were present were Padma Bhushan Awardee Uma Sharma, Kathak Dancers Nalini Kamalkini, Sangeeta Bahl and Ramon Lamba.

Over 50 activities have been planned in the Perfect Health Mela and will include inter-school; inter-nursing school, inter-dancing school and inter-college festivals, workshops on physics and consciousness, cardiology workshops for naturopaths, Ayurved physicians and homeopaths, all pathy and all religion meet on exercise and prayer. The 5 days of Mela will be a mix of exhibition, checkups and infotainment.

Workshop on obesity
A special workshop was organized on obesity and concluded that trans-fat should be banned in the hotel industry. The participants included Dr. KK Aggarwal and Dr Praveen Bhatia obesity surgeon.
1. Abdominal obesity is more dangerous than generalized obesity
2. One should avoid a combination of refined carbs and animal fat
3. Eat in moderation
4. Exercise more
5. Longer the waist line shorter the life line


1000 children walk for good health
1000 children walked from Shastri Bhavan to the Mela ground in the morning with health play cards

1. Foods of plant in origin have no cholesterol
2. Dengue mosquito grows in fresh collected home water
3. Breathing with a speed of 5 per minute for twenty minute can be a used like a drug
4. Eat seasonal fruits and vegetables
5. Move and walk is the fitness mantra

1500 school children participate in Harmony
Over 1500 school children participated in the special festival Harmony in competitions like Poster-cum-Slogan Writing, Health Model Display-cum-Demonstration on prevention of vector born diseases, Quiz on non-communicable diseases and Folk Dance on dance to good health. The prizes were distributed on the spot. Birla Vidya Niketan school was the coordinating school.

Mrs Minakshi Kushwaha and Mrs Tapati Singhi from BVN said that school children can paly a major role in checking the menace of dengue in the city.

1. Dance is good for the heart
2. Walk atleast 80 minutes a day
3. Brisk walk atleast 80 minutes a week
4. Brisk walk should be more than 80 steps a minute
5. Do not use lift for the first floor

National workshop on Ayurveda in cardiology
Over 200 Ayurvedic doctors participated in a workshop organized in association with Integrated Medical Association on all about cardiac diagnostics an Ayurveda doctor should know. The faculty included Dr. KK Aggarwal and Dr. Vinayak Aggarwal and Dr R P Parasher.

Facts
1. Arjuna Chaal is good for heart patients
2. One clove of garlic is good for the heart
3. Heart patients should avoid eating food rich in pungent, sour and salt taste.

Over 400 school teachers attend a workshop on Health and Hygiene
Over 400 school teachers attended a workshop on health and hygiene. The workshops were conducted for school teachers by Birla Vidya Niketan and Ryan International School. Over 400 teachers including from SMCD were trained. The workshops were conducted by Dr. KK Aggarwal and Anju Uppal Principal Rynes International School Faridabad.

Facts
1. One should not cough in hands or in handkerchief
2. One should wash hands before eating
3. Washing hands should be for 15 seconds.

PFA stalls attack crowdLarge number of people could be seen at the food adulteration stalls showing how to detect adulteration in food.

Cultural Shows at Perfect Health Mela
Cultural shows were organized by Punjabi Academy and National Song and Drama Division.