Chandigarh, 7th April 2013 (BharatSandesh News):– The Department of Health & Family Welfare, Punjab in collaboration with Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGI), Chandigarh here today held celebrations to mark the World Health Day 2013 on the WHO’s theme of ‘Control your Blood Pressure’.
The celebrations began with a Walkathon at 6.30 am from PGI to Sukhna Lake, wherein Prof. Yogesh Chawla, Director, PGIMER, Chandigarh and Ms. Vini Mahajan, Principal Secretary, Health, Family Welfare and Medical Education & Research, Punjab along with many senior functionaries and prominent citizens participated. Thereafter, a symposium on hypertension was held at the Bhargava Auditorium PGI, during which Ms Vini Mahajan was the chief guest.
The event was attended by many senior officers of Punjab Health Department and PGI, Chandigarh including Dr Ashok Nayyar, Director Health Services, Punjab, Dr Tejveer Singh, Director, Medical Education & Research, Punjab, Dr A.K. Gupta, Professor & Head, Hospital Administration cum Medical Superintendent, PGI, Dr J.S. Thakur, Additional Professor, School of Public Health, PGI, Dr Manmeet Kaur, President, Local Branch, Indian Public Health Association, PGI, Chandigarh, Civil Surgeons and senior Medical Officers from Punjab and other paramedical staff. Prominent experts from the medical field from PGI, Chandigarh and Department of Health, Punjab addressed the participants and gave brief presentations and lectures on various aspects related to hypertension.
Prominent among these sessions were the presentations on Epidemiology of Hypertension and management by Dr Sanjay Jain, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine and Hypertension Clinic, PGI; Complications of Hypertension including Stroke by Dr Dheeraj Khurana, Additional professor, Department of Neurology, PGI; Health Promotion in different settings for prevention of Hypertension by Dr Ravneet Kaur, Assistant Professor, School of Public Health, PGI; and NCD Control activities in Punjab by Dr T.S. Behl, State Programme Officer, NPCDCS Programme, Punjab.
Ms. Vini Mahajan said while addressing the participants that the event was a joint initiative by PGI and Health Department Punjab to sensitize and motivate people for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and staying fit. She added that hypertension can be controlled by adopting a healthy life style as well as proper medical intervention. She detailed the various steps being taken by Punjab Government to improve the health care services including the successful implementation of State wide door to door cancer awareness and early detection campaign, a ‘first of its kind’ exercise, for which she largely appreciated the dedication and commitment exhibited by the officials of Health Department, Punjab. She also expressed gratitude to PGI, Chandigarh for providing valuable support and expertise to Punjab for further improvising the health care services in the state.
Prof. A.K. Gupta emphasized upon the need to stick to daily exercise regimen in order to check the high blood pressure, while reiterating that a 20-30 minutes brisk walk may help a lot in maintaining normal blood pressure, especially in today’s sedentary life style. He stated that unchecked hypertension can lead to further medical complications, which may start affecting other vital organs. Dr Ashok Nayyar stressed upon the need to adopt a healthy lifestyle and avoid consumption of junk food. He said symptoms of High Blood Pressure should not be ignored as that may lead to more complications and can be fatal. He added that early detection and management of high BP can help reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney failure. He said controlled intake of salt, avoiding alcohol & tobacco and exercising at-least 5 days a week were the other important measures that can help in controlling high blood pressure.
PIC CAPTIONS: Ms Vini Mahajan, Principal Secretary (Health), Punjab being presented memento at Bhargava Auditorium, PGI during the World Health Day function
