Heart Care Foundation of India & Indian Medical Association trained over 4000 people in hands only CPR 10 & essential food safety measures on World Health Day

Heart Care Foundation of India & Indian Medical Association trained over 4000 people in hands only CPR 10 & essential food safety measures on World Health Day
New Delhi, April 7, 2015: On the occasion of World Health Day, Heart Care Foundation of India and Indian Medical Association organized a day long awareness programme on food safety and essential life-saving techniques The event was organized jointly with Delhi Medical Association and NDMC, supported by Lions Club and India Oil. The event which took place from 8am – 5pm consisted of a CPR training camp, a perfect health parade, panel discussion on food safety, inaguration and a cultural show.
Speaking on the ocassion, Padma Shri Awardee Dr A Marthanda Pillai, National President, and Padma Shri Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal, Honorary Secretary General, Indian Medical Association and President, Heart Care Foundation of India in a joint statement said, “Awareness about food safety is essential at all levels. Towards this endevor we will be roping in all 2.5 lakh doctors who are members of IMA in helping raise aeareness about its importance. What people do not realise is that diseases such as diarrohea are food & water borne and preventable if food safety and hygiene measures are adhered to. At present over 6.9 lakh people die of diarrhoeal diseases in India with many deaths not being accounted for. Three lakh of these are in the age group 0-5 years. Lives of several children can be saved through the widespread use of a simple solution of oral rehydration salts (ORS) and zinc supplementation. Today’s programme will help educate the masses so that they are informed and can make sensible choices.”
Adding to this Mr Jalaj Srivastava, Chairman, NDMC emphasized on prevention and said, “Prevention is alway better than cure. Money spent on food safety today will reduce our expenditure on the treatment of a disease in future.”
A panel discussion on food safety by renowned influencers from different fields also took place. Some of the panelists included dietician Dr. Shikha Sharma, scientist Dr. Anuj Sinha, pharmacist Ms. Pallavi, pediatrician Dr. Anupam Sachdeva, dancers Nalini Kamilini, journalist Sh. Dhananjay, hotilier Sh. Udit Kumar & surgeon Dr. R.N. Tandon amongst others. The panel discussion was moderated by Dr K K Aggarwal.
Dr. Anupam Sachdeva, Chairman, Pediatrics, Director, Pediatric Hematology Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Institute For Child Health, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital who was one of the panelists said, “Diarrhoea is a leading killer of children, accounting for 9 per cent of all deaths among children under age 5. Several studies have demonstrated that zinc supplementation reduces the severity and duration of diarrhoea and reduces the incidence of subsequent episodes of diarrhoea for several months. WHO recommends zinc for children under 5 years of age with diarrhoea (10 mg/day for under 6 months and 20 mg/day for 10 days for 6 months to 5 years). Zinc deficiency is common in children in developing countries, and zinc deficiency appears to contribute to the risk of developing diarrhoea and pneumonia. Sufficient dietary zinc sources are available in a typical mixed diet, but lacto-ovo vegetarians need more milk, eggs, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds to achieve adequate levels.”
Dr Ajay Lekhi, President, Delhi Medical Asociation and Dr P K Sharma, MOH, NDMC said in a joint statement, “Raw materials like water, ice, fruits and vegetables are common sources of bacteria. Using safe water, pasteurized milk and checking for expiry dates can ensure food safety. Do not store food in the refrigerator for too long and avoid thawing at room temperature.”
Ten tableaus with health messages on TB Control, Cancer Control, Food Safety, CPR 10 – Save a life, Sameer Malik Heart Care Foundation Fund for heart patients, formula of 80- how to live longer healthy life were also flagged off on the occasion.
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.