*Over 350 participate in the Walkathon ‘Walk a mile to Live with A Smile’ organised by PGIMER’s Deptt. of General Surgery under “Amputation Free India” campaign to mark the observance of Vascular Day
Let us walk more and drive less to keep our ‘limbs’ and our ‘city’ healthy : Home Secretary*
Over 350 walking enthusiasts participate in the hugely successful Walkathon ‘Walk a mile to Live with A Smile’ organised under “Amputation Free India” campaign to mark the observance of Vascular Day today.
Organised by PGIMER’s Deptt. of General Surgery and Vascular Society of India, the Walkathon witnessing the participation of senior faculty members, resident doctors, nursing officers, youngsters, and other walking enthusiasts, started off at PGIMER and culminated at Sukhna Lake covering a distance of six kms.
Shri Nitin Yadav IAS, Home Secretary Chandigarh Administration gracing as Chief Guest at the culmination point at Sukhna Lake, congratulated participants from tricity, who all joined for the noble cause of amputation free India with great enthusiasm.
The Home Secretary endorsed, “Let us take it as our social responsibility to help our people understand about the need of healthy life style and significant importance of daily walking for 30-45 minutes in everyday routine to have healthy and disease free legs. It has dual benefits of keeping us and environment in good shape. So let us walk more and drive less to keep our ‘limbs’ and our ‘city’ healthy”
Earlier, the Walkathon was flagged off by the Chief Guest at the start point, Shri Kumar Gaurav Dhawan, Deputy Director (Administration), PGIMER from Kairon Block, PGIMER amid huge applause. Dr. Arunanshu Behera, Head, Department of General Surgery, PGIMER was also present on the occasion.
Shri Kumar Gaurav Dhawan terming the response as overwhelming during the flag-off ceremony, stated, “We’re probably well aware about the increase in incidence of peripheral arterial disease due to excessive use of smoking, diabetes mellitus and ageing. Thus, by organising this Walkathon, we want to disperse a message of a healthier lifestyle by inculcating a daily routine of 30-45 minutes of walking.”
Dr. Arunanshu Behera, expressed gratitude to all the collaborating partners including Govt Medical College-32, Fortis hospital, Indus hospital Mohali, Alchemist hospital, Ojas Hospital and participants from tricity, who all joined for the noble cause of amputation free India with great enthusiasm. Dr. Behera also urged for their proactive engagement on continuous basis to help create awareness about the need of daily walk in routine to keep our legs healthy.
Expressing his concern, Dr Ajay Savlania, Vascular Surgeon from Dept of General Surgery, PGIMER said, “ In the world ,approximate 23.7 crore people have lower extremity peripheral vascular disease(blockage of the arteries of legs which can lead to amputation of legs), of whom three quarters are in low- or middle-income countries. In India 4.3% population (4.1-5 crore) suffer from peripheral vascular disease which can be contained to a large extent with something as basic as walking for 30-45 minutes on daily basis.”
The Walkathon concluded on an upbeat note with felicitating the partner organizations.
