Heart Care Foundation of India to focus on youth health education during the 21st MTNL Perfect Health Mela

The underlying reason behind this is the belief that by educating the youth from the very beginning, several life-threatening and lifestyle diseases can be prevented in the future. The various activities planned will be spread across five days and will include a series of inter school and college music, art, creative writing, sports and dance competitions; workshops, lectures and entertainment shows all themed around healthy living. In addition to this, all students who have symptoms of suspected heart disease will be provided free screening and consultation through the Sameer Malik Heart Care Foundation Fund, an initiative by the NGO to ensure that no person dies of heart disease because they cannot otherwise afford treatment.

Addressing a press conference, Padam Shri, Dr B C Roy & DST National Science and Communication Awardee and the President Heart Care Foundation of India, Dr. KK Aggarwal said, “Heart Care Foundation of India is committed to raising awareness about the various health issues in the country and providing solutions for them. As a part of this endeavor we have been successfully organizing the Perfect Health Mela for twenty years now. In its 21st edition, the Perfect Health Mela will lay an increased focus on youth education, for early and timely awareness about preventive healthcare can help reduce the disease burden in our country drastically. A leading example of this is the fact that a heart attack takes about 15-20 years to manifest. So if a person wishes to avoid becoming a victim to it at the age of 45, he must start taking preventive measures in school itself. I am extremely thankful to all our sponsors, partners and the participating schools and colleges for without their support none of this would be possible.”

Adding to this, Chairman of the Standing Committee South Delhi Municipal Cooperation and President of BJP Delhi, Mr. Satish Upadhaya said, “We congratulate the Heart Care Foundation of India on this noble initiative and hope to keep continue supporting the Perfect Health Mela in the future as well. Young children are the future of our country and it is our duty to educate them about the importance of health and hygiene from their school days itself.”

The Perfect Health Mela caters to people from all age groups and walks of life and is attended by over 200 organisations each year including those from the State and Central government, PSUs, leading corporates amongst others. This year’s Mela is being organized in association the NDMC, MCD, Health Department Government of Delhi and MTNL and will feature a series of mini-events being organized starting September 2014 as a build up to the Mela.

Speaking at the press conference renowned Bharatnatyam dancer and Padma Shri awardee Geeta Chandran said “With more and more young people being diagnosed with lifestyle disorders in todays day and age it has become extremely important to raise awareness about preventive measures from the onset of ones education and what better a way to do so than through music, dance and art. I am extremely proud to support the Heart Care Foundation of India in their endeavor to make India a healthier nation and wish them all the best for the future. “

Adding to this the Medical Officer of Health– NDMC, Dr. PK Sharma; Director of Education – NDMC, Ms. Vidushi Chaturvedi and the Medical Officer of Health SDMC, Dr. NK Yadav in a joint statement said, “Health and hygiene are an extremely important part of a person’s life and must be taught at an early stage, for it is extremely difficult to make a person unlearn his habits and acquire new ones once people are older. We are extremely happy to be associated with the 21st MTNL Perfect Health Mela and hope that through our joint efforts we can help make our country a healthy one”

Others present at the occasion included the Consultant, Birla Vidya Niketan Ms. Tapati Singhi and GM Marketing Corporate– MTNL, Gunjan Sinha.

About Heart Care Foundation of India

Initiated in 1986, the Heart Care Foundation of India is a leading National NGO working in the field of creating mass health awareness among people from all walks of life and providing solutions for India’s everyday healthcare needs. The NGO uses consumer based entertainment modules to impart health education and increase awareness amongst people. A leading example of this is the Perfect Health Mela, an annual event started in 1993 that is attended by over 2–3 lakh people each year. The Mela showcases activities across categories such as health education seminars and check ups, entertainment programs, lifestyle exhibitions, lectures, workshops and competitions. In addition to this, the NGO conducts programs and camps to train people on the technique of hands only CPR through its CPR 10 mantra for revival after a sudden cardiac arrest. They currently hold three Limca book of world records for the maximum number of people trained in hands only CPR in one go. Keeping article 21 of the Indian constitution in mind, which guarantees a person Right to Life, Heart Care Foundation of India has also recently initiated a project called the Sameer Malik Heart Care Foundation Fund to ensure that no one dies of a heart disease just because they cannot afford treatment.