Impressive Walkathon organised to mark World Heart Day
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Emphasizing the need of changing lifestyle to prevent heart-related problems, Dr. Sushil Kumar Sharma, Head of the Department, Department of Cardiology, Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH) Jammu focused on the need for preventive measures like maintaining a healthy lifestyle, dietary preferences, physical activity to remain healthy.
To celebrate World Heart Day, a Walkathon organized by Department of cardiology headed by Dr Sushil and in association with C-3 Society, Orlando USA.
Speaking at the conclusion of the Walkathon, Dr Sushil said that nothing is more powerful than human resolve to prevent any disease.
He pointed out that Jammuites have reasserted their resolve by participating in today’s Walkathon with an overwhelming response from every section of the society while maintaining the social distancing norms.
This Walkathon was organized regarding World Heart Day, to make people aware of how to keep a healthy heart to avoid morbidity and mortality, particularly in times of pandemic when already we have suffered millions of deaths worldwide, he said.
Lok Sabha member from Jammu-Poonch constituency Jugal Kishore Sharma, Director AIIMS Jammu, Dr. Shakti Gupta, President Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCI) Arun Gupta, eminent agriculture scientist, and national secretary of BJP, Dr Narinder Singh, Ashwani Khajuria (Administrator GMCH Jammu), Dr Sanjogita Soodan (Dy Med Supt), Dr Rajinder Singh (former Principal GMCH), Capt. Murti, eminent cardiologist Dr. Mohan Lal, CVTS Surgeon Dr. Arvind Kohli, former head of CVTS Department GMC Jammu, Dr. Gurjit Singh, Dr Nasir Ali Choudhary and prominent citizens of Jammu and soldiers of security forces attended the impressive Walkathon.
This year the theme of World Heart Day is, “Use Heart For Every Heart” and all the participants were made aware to consider how best to use their hearts for humanity, nature, and for everyone. Beating the cardiovascular disease is something that matters to every beating heart.
“On World Heart Day with the help of Walkathon masses were educated that to use the Heart means to think differently. To make the right decisions. To act with courage. To help others. To engage with this important cause. The heart is the only organ that can hear and feel. It is the first and last sign of life. It is one of the few things with the potential to unite all of us as people”, Dr. Sushil Sharma said.
For Every Heart involves the use of “FOR” and swings the focus from the actions themselves to the beneficiaries of the actions, allowing for wider application of the campaign while also making it more personal. “World Heart Day messages should reach as many individuals as possible to help achieve cardiovascular health for every heart”, he emphasized.
“The aim of organizing this Walkathon is to address the ever-rising trend of CVDs which take the lives of 18.6 million people every year, 31% of all global deaths. Triggering these diseases – which manifest primarily as heart attacks and strokes – are tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and the harmful use of alcohol”, Dr. Sharma said.
Dr. Sushil further said that collective factors like abnormal lipids, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, abdominal obesity, psycho-social variables, and alcohol consumption need early intervention so that they should not turn uglier enough to initiate the onset of chronic morbidities among the common populace.
“There is very low awareness about these diseases among people leading to further challenges to inculcating lifestyle changes and prevention methods”, he said and added that today’s event aimed to create awareness among society by involving all sections of the society. Speaking on the occasion, Jugal Kishore Sharma called for coordination among all sections of the society to create awareness among people about such diseases. Appreciating the participation of a large number of people in the Walkathon, the Lok Sabha member observed that it is a good sign that a large number of people have participated in today’s event. He said that every section of society must create awareness among people to prevent such diseases. He also emphasized the need for regular exercise to remain healthy. Lok Sabha member appreciated Dr. Sushil Sharma for organizing health camps in remotest and far-flung to educate people and also to provide health facilities to the people at their doorsteps.
Dr. Shakti Gupta also appreciated the Walkathon and said that such events are most to create awareness among people. Walkathon started from Bikram Chowk and culminated at Superspeciality Hospital, Jammu. At the outset, Dr. Mohan Lal, Dr Gurjit Singh , Dr. Arvind Kohli, and Dr Nasir Ali Choudhary informed the participants on how to stay healthy and how to prevent any complications in patients who already have cardiovascular disease. The walkathon concluded with the release of balloons bearing messages like Beat CVD, Quit Smoking, Healthy Diet, Physical Activity, Maintain adequate blood pressure, Control diabetes, cholesterol level, and de-stress.
Cyclists from different parts of Jammu, prominent citizens, and media persons attended the walkathon.The eminent scientist from Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Jammu (SKUAST-J) conducted the proceedings of the concluding event at Super specialty Hospital. Scientists and students of SKUAST-Jammu also participated in the Walkathon. Carrying placards spreading the messages on the occasion of World Heart Day, students from different schools in Jammu were the attraction of the Walkathon. Students of Lawrence Public School, Maa Saraswati School, Adarsh Club, Wazir Jankinath Memorial School, Jammu Sanskriti School, and IDPS participated in the Walkathon.