Heart Care Foundation of India to focus on youth health education during the 21st MTNL Perfect Health Mela

New Delhi, July 24, 2014: Heart Care Foundation of India, a leading national non-profit organization committed to making India a healthier and disease free nation, today announced its focus on youth education during the 21^st Perfect Health Mela 2014. The mass community health event, which is scheduled to be held at the Talkotora Indoor Stadium New Delhi, from 15^th -19^th October, 2014 will feature a series of interactive consumer based modules focused on educating over 4000 school and college students about the importance of preventive health and hygiene. 

The underlying reason behind this is the belief that by educating the youth from the very beginning, several life-threatening and lifestyle diseases can be prevented in the future. The various activities planned will be spread across five days and will include a series of inter school and college music, art, creative writing, sports and dance competitions; workshops, lectures and entertainment shows all themed around healthy living. In addition to this, all students who have symptoms of suspected heart disease will be provided free screening and consultation through the Sameer Malik Heart Care Foundation Fund, an initiative by the NGO to ensure that no person dies of heart disease because they cannot otherwise afford treatment. 

Addressing a press conference, Padam Shri, Dr B C Roy & DST National Science and Communication Awardee and the President Heart Care Foundation of India, Dr. KK Aggarwal said, “Heart Care Foundation of India is committed to raising awareness about the various health issues in the country and providing solutions for them. As a part of this endeavor we have been successfully organizing the Perfect Health Mela for twenty years now. In its 21^st edition, the Perfect Health Mela will lay an increased focus on youth education, for early and timely awareness about preventive healthcare can help reduce the disease burden in our country drastically. A leading example of this is the fact that a heart attack takes about 15-20 years to manifest. So if a person wishes to avoid becoming a victim to it at the age of 45, he must start taking preventive measures in school itself. I am extremely thankful to all our sponsors, partners and the participating schools and colleges for without their support none of this would be possible.” 

Adding to this, Chairman of the Standing Committee South Delhi Municipal Cooperation and President of BJP Delhi, Mr. Satish Upadhaya said, ”We congratulate the Heart Care Foundation of India on this noble initiative and hope to keep continue supporting the Perfect Health Mela in the future as well. Young children are the future of our country and it is our duty to educate them about the importance of health and hygiene from their school days itself.” 

The Perfect Health Mela caters to people from all age groups and walks of life and is attended by over 200 organisations each year including those from the State and Central government, PSUs, leading corporates amongst others. This year’s Mela is being organized in association the NDMC, MCD, Health Department Government of Delhi and MTNL and will feature a series of mini-events being organized starting September 2014 as a build up to the Mela.

Speaking at the press conference renowned Bharatnatyam dancer and Padma Shri awardee Geeta Chandran said “With more and more young people being diagnosed with lifestyle disorders in todays day and age it has become extremely important to raise awareness about preventive measures from the onset of ones education and what better a way to do so than through music, dance and art. I am extremely proud to support the Heart Care Foundation of India in their endeavor to make India a healthier nation and wish them all the best for the future. ”

Adding to this the Medical Officer of Health- NDMC, Dr. PK Sharma; Director of Education – NDMC, Ms. Vidushi Chaturvedi and the Medical Officer of Health SDMC, Dr. NK Yadav in a joint statement said, “Health and hygiene are an extremely important part of a person’s life and must be taught at an early stage, for it is extremely difficult to make a person unlearn his habits and acquire new ones once people are older. We are extremely happy to be associated with the 21^st MTNL Perfect Health Mela and hope that through our joint efforts we can help make our country a healthy one”

Others present at the occasion included the Consultant, Birla Vidya Niketan Ms. Tapati Singhi and GM Marketing Corporate- MTNL, Gunjan Sinha.

For more information about the event please visit our website: www.perfecthealthmela.com. Entry to the mela is free for all.