20th MTNL Perfect Health Mela Inaugurated

Inaugurating the 20^th MTNL Perfect Health Mela, Mr. AK Garg Chairman & Managing Director, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd., said that proper communication is the key between any patient-doctor relationship. Right communication by the right people at the right time can save many lives. Today, with the help of Social Media, Apps, it is possible to treat emergencies and take final opinions from people even if they are remotely located.

Padma Shri & Dr. BC Roy National Awardee, Dr. KK Aggarwal, President Heart Care Foundation of India said that it is possible to revive a person even after death within 10 minutes. As doctors may not be able to reach the patient within 10 minutes, it is the duty of the public to learn CPR 10. In Delhi alone, 30 lives can be saved every day if CPR 10 is learnt by everybody.

Mr. Anil Kumar Ganeriwala, Joint Secretary, AYUSH, Government of India and Dr BP Singh, Head NCSTC DST said that Perfect Health Mela is the perfect place where all pathies can sit together and answer queries of the people. He said that all systems of medicines have their own ‘plus’ points and should be respected.

Mr. Jalaj Srivastava, Chairman NDMC said that every child and woman should learn how to identify adulteration in food at home so that they do not eat adulterated food, which can be harmful to the health in long run.

In a joint statement, Mr. B Mondol, GM, North Central Bank of India and Mr. AK Singh, ZM (North) LIC said that financial health is an essential component of health. Everybody should plan for his or her old age. Today it is possible to get yourself insured and yet get insured for diseases and also cover your old age treatment under the reverse mortgage scheme.

The Mela is organized by Heart Care Foundation of India with the help of many government and non-government departments.

The attraction of the Mela today was Harmony, the inter-school Health Festival, which was attended by over 2000 children from various schools.

In a joint statement, Shri Ashok Chakradhar, noted Kavi and Nalini Kamalini, Kathak dancers said that pranayam, relaxation or meditation are good for health. They further said that classical dance is better than western dance in attaining good health.

In a joint statement, Mrs Rashmi Singh, Executive Director, Rashtriya Mahila Kosh, Women and Child Development, Govt. of India; Mr Rajiv Kale, Director, Department of Women and Child Development, Government of Delhi; Mr. SC Vats Department of Prohibition and Dr. Anil Kumar, Department of Environment said that excess of alcohol is bad for health. Consuming more than six pegs in one day and more than five pegs in one hour can cause sudden death.  

Ms. Uma Sharma, Padma Bhushan and noted Kathak dancer in her message said that doing 20 minutes of classical dance a day can keep one’s heart healthy. Mr. Deepak Jolly, Vice President, Coca Cola India Ltd. said that fluid resuscitation is the answer in dengue and not platelet resuscitation.

In a joint statement, Ms Meenakshi Dutt, noted makeup artist and Ms Roshni Thakur, noted Poetess said that singing as well as listening to songs can be health-friendly.

 Following health messages were released during the inauguration:

1.      While treating dengue fever, PCV (packed cell volume) is more important than platelet count and it should not be allowed to rise above 50.

2.      Pot belly obesity is more dangerous than general obesity and is linked to heart attack, paralysis and diabetes.

3.      Noise pollution of more than 80 db can be harmful not only to the ears but also to the heart.

4.      Drinking more than 5 pegs of whiskey in an hour and 6 pegs in a day can be fatal.

5.      Black tea and black coffee are good for health provided no milk or sugar is added.

6.      One should not ignore first attack of acidity after the age of 40 as it may be a sign of heart attack.

7.      One should not ignore first attack of asthma after the age of 40 as it may be a sign of heart attack.

8.      Never ignore a symptom which is unusual, unexplained or occurring for the first time in life.

9.      For food hygiene, follow the principle of heat it, boil it, cook it, peel it or forget it.

10.  Keep your blood pressure lower than 120/80.

 All-pathy Consensus on cardiology organized

At the Mela venue, an All-pathy consensus on cardiology was organized and the experts included Dr KK Aggarwal (Allopathy), Dr BN Sinha (Ayurveda), Dr Uzma Bano (Unani), Dr Neeraj Gupta (Homoeopathy) and Dr SN Yadav (Naturopathy).

The experts resolved that lifestyle consensus cannot be a domain of any particular pathy. All pathies should talk about a common lifestyle so that the patients do not get confused. The experts also resolved that lifestyle modifications should be such that they not only prevent heart diseases but also diabetes, blood pressure, depression and cancer.

About HCFI : The only National Not for profit NGO, on whose mega community health education events, Govt. of India has released two National Commemorative stamps and one cancellation stamp, and who has conducted one to one training on” Hands only CPR” of 63425 people since 1st November 2012.

The CPR 10 Mantra is – “Within 10 minutes of death, earlier the better; at least for the next 10 minutes, longer the better; compress the centre of the chest of the dead person continuously and effectively with a speed of 10x10 i.e. 100 per minute.”  

Health Mela is the best low-cost health awareness module

21st October 2013: New Delhi India: The health Mela concept is one of the most field-tested and successful low-cost modules for creating health awareness in the country.  The concept was started by Heart Care Foundation of India in 1993 and the Government of India earmarked the occasion by issuing a national commemorative postal stamp.  Later, the concept was adopted by the Ministry of Health, Government of India under Swasthya Mela Scheme.

Addressing a press conference, Padma Shri and Dr. B C Roy National Awardee, Dr. K K Aggarwal, President Heart Care Foundation of India said that Health Mela concept is nothing but passing on credible health information to the people who are gathered by attracting them using traditional folk or modern infotainment modules.

The press conference was organized to earmark the 0th MTNL Perfect Health Mela to open on 23rd October.

The Mela is being organized by the Heart Care Foundation of India at Constitution Club of India, New Delhi from 23rd to 27th October, 2013 in association with the Departments of Central and Delhi Government, Central Bank of India, LIC, Coca Cola, GAIL and various hospitals and NGOs.  

The press was co-addressed by Mr. Ashok Chakradhar, noted Poet and Dr. Praveen Chandra, Chairman, Interventional Cardiology at Medanta - The Medicity, Gurgaon.

The experts said that today when Delhi alone has over 65 national news channels and newspapers, there is always a shortage of medical experts available for quotes.

 

Any wrong information from the mouth of a health expert can create panic in the society.  Giving examples the experts said that Swine Flu panic ended up with increased number of patients with rheumatic fever and dengue epidemic panic has ended up with unnecessary platelet transfusion.

The expert said that time has come for the health information to be regulated by the councils.  

Dr. Aggarwal said that under Section 7.11 of Code of Medical Ethics by Medical Council of India,  a doctor should not contribute to the lay press articles and give interviews regarding diseases and treatments which may have the effect of advertising himself or soliciting practices; but is open to write to the lay press under his own name on matters of public health, hygienic living or to deliver public lectures, give talks on the radio/TV/internet chat for the same purpose and send announcement of the same to lay press.

Therefore, any exaggeration of a disease or creating panic in the society, soliciting patients amounts to professional misconduct.

The experts talked about the following principles of communication:

1.   The health information should be fact-based, field tested and should not create any panic or fear in the society.

2.   The principles of hit the iron when it is hot and involving the people who counts should be adhered to.

3.   While giving a health statement, the doctor should also quote credible source of information.

4.   As of today, the credible sources of studies are Meta-Analysis, Randomized controlled studies and Reviews published in credible journals.  Individual case reports or non-randomized controls may not be accepted as the recommendations.

5.   Any claim of cure should be accepted with a pinch of salt.

6.   The Medical Council of India does not allow doctors to endorse any drug or product publicly. The council expects that any study conducted by a doctor on the efficacy or otherwise of a product shall be first presented to and/or through appropriate scientific bodies or published in a proper scientific journal in a proper way. 

7.   Health information should be evidence-based medicine. 

About HCFI : The only National Not for profit NGO, on whose mega community health education events, Govt. of India has released two National Commemorative stamps and one cancellation stamp, and who has conducted one to one training on” Hands only CPR” of 63425 people since 1st November 2012.

 

The CPR 10 Mantra is – “Within 10 minutes of death, earlier the better; at least for the next 10 minutes, longer the better; compress the centre of the chest of the dead person continuously and effectively with a speed of 10x10 i.e. 100 per minute.”