Indian Public Health Association Celebrates World Health Day

By 121 News

Chandigarh 07^th April:- Indian Public Health Association- PGI, Chandigarh Chapter celebrated World Health Day today at PGI, Chandigarh. The World Health Day is celebrated on the 7 ^thApril on the foundation day of World Health Organization (WHO) to draw attention to a public health problem of global proportions and what needs to be done to address it. "Food safety: from farm to plate, make food safe" is the theme of World Health Day 2015. The symposium was chaired by Dr Rajesh Kumar and covered topics on "Food laws in India" by Dr Tarundeep Singh, "From food wastage to food safety" by Dr Ravindra Khaiwal, "Food security through food fortification" by Ms Supriya Thapar and "Prevention of Food poisoning" by Dr PVM Lakshmi. Prizes were distributed for poster & salad competition.

Indian Public Health Association, PGI, Chandigarh Chapter  hosted series of activities to create awareness among people from different walks of life in Chandigarh along with active support from Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh, School of Public Health, PGIMER & National Institute of Nursing Education, PGI. Throughout the week different activities were performed on food safety. These include health education session at different Anganwadis of Dhanas, Dadumajra, Sharanpur, Fathegarh Sahib, Narayangarh, Indira Colony & Sector 25, 38 of Chandigarh, display of video messages in OPD, stall for identification of food adulterants and symposium and exhibition on food safety theme. The programme was graced by Chief Guest Prof Savita Malhotra, Dean of PGI, Chandigarh; Guest of Honour, Saurabh Joshi, councilor of Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh; Guest of Honour, Dr Varinder Garg, OSD to Union Health Minister at PGI, Dr Rajesh Kumar, Head of School of Public Health; Dr Sandhya Ghai, President of IPHA & Principal of NINE and Dr PVM Lakshmi, Secretary of IPHA. 

Dr Sandhya Ghai, Honorary President of IPHA welcomed the dignitaries and guests. She pronounced the mission of IPHA that strives to protect and promote the health and well being of all people. She outlined the continuous role of IPHA plays for promoting health.

Prof Savita Malhotra, Dean of PGIMER, in her inaugural address stressed that along with traditional food related issues of nutritional disorder, safety of food is essential these days mainly due to increased contamination of pesticides. Contamination and adulteration of food are of concern and congratulated IPHA, National Institute of Nursing & School of Public Health for raising the issue in this platform.

Guest of Honour, Saurabh Joshi, councilor of Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh raised few very important & sensitive issues like increasing cancer burden in these region, providing safe water in Community center of Chandigarh through RO plant. He asked the audience to donate at least 1 hour in a month for fighting this social cause. He assured full cooperation with School of Public Health for organizing food safety awareness program among street food vendors in the community.

Dr Varinder Garg, OSD to Union Health Minister at PGIMER expressed that as medical professionals we are blessed with not only curing patient but blessed to prevent disease. For the health of the nation, we must aware common people and chip in to prevent food adulteration at all possible level. Dr PVM Lakshmi thanked all dignitaries, guest and sponsors for their overwhelming response, support and active participation.Together we need to focus on the issue and a unified action, strong motive will definitely ensure a world with safe food.