India surpasses WHO guidelines with 1:900 doctor-to-population ratio: Bhubaneswar Kalita

The second edition of the Awareness Summit on Illness to Wellness commenced in New Delhi on Monday under the banner of the ASSOCHAM National CSR Council a division of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India ASSOCHAMIn his address as the chief guest Rajya Sabha MP Bhubaneswar Kalita whos also the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare said ldquoToday India is undertaking a transformative journey one that looks at illness to wellness from a completely new prismAs we delve into the significance of health and hygiene let us acknowledge Indiarsquos remarkable evolution in this realm While the WHO recommends a doctortopopulation ratio of 11000 we have achieved a ratio of 1900 which marks an improvement over the guidelines Investing in health and hygiene is not just a moral imperative it is an economic necessityldquoBeyond being just buzzwords health and hygiene are the pillars upon which prosperous societies are built The journey has been arduous yet inspiring From battling infectious diseases to embracing preventive healthcare the nation has made significant strides Over the past decade we have witnessed a reduction in maternal mortality rate infant mortality rate and mortality rate among children under five years of ageThese achievements underscore the effectiveness of the robust healthcare initiatives and the importance of prioritising hygiene practices The various initiatives and programmes of the government have made our society healthconsciousAs we strive for universal health coverage it is imperative to empower communities with knowledge and resources to safeguard their wellbeing The government has increased the number of medical colleges and we will have one medical college in every district now The shortage of doctors in the rural areas will soon be a thing of the past Kalita addedDelivering the welcome address Anil Rajput Chairperson ASSOCHAM National CSR Council said ldquoThe Illness to Wellness initiative was launched in 2014 with the belief that we have the scientific knowledge to create a world in which most of the diseases could be either eliminated or controlled by preventive healthcare awarenessWe are driven by a commitment to promote health and wellness for all with a focus on empowerment education collaboration and sustainable impact Over the years we have endeavoured to maximise outreach and impact from organising camps and awareness campaigns on a slew of critical ailments to holding regular webinars on key health developments with the overarching objective of providing remedies and motivationrdquoThe Illness to Wellness campaign extends its reach to young minds through initiatives such as the interschool drawing competition with artwork from the latest competition showcased at the SummitEngaging 57 schools and involving 10000 students the competition promoted awareness of crucial topics including health hygiene and air pollutionDelivering the keynote address Ashok Seth Chairman Fortis Escorts Heart Institute New Delhi said ldquoWellness is a state of mind spirit and body and illness is a deficiency of social physical mental and spiritual factors A new India for the world has to encompass health towards wellnessThe youth and women are the present and future of our country We have to combine all efforts to deliver wellness and beyond The 20th century was the most scientific 100 years ever lived by mankind A microbe and the Covid pandemic showed humankind the limits of its powerThe understanding about working together mental health and empowerment is the silver lining leading us to talk about wellness with greater urgency Science made us live in the 20th century and we must now combine science with spirituality as we go into the 21st century Science made us live on earth and science plus spirituality makes us live in the worldrdquoAnil Agarwal Medical Director Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education Research Government of NCT of Delhi said in his address ldquoPublic awareness is an important prerequisite to the adoption of healthy practices It is also equally important that the right information is disseminatedEarly detection is the cornerstone of treatment and seeking early medical intervention is advisable The focus should be on the silent killers and vulnerable groups in raising public awareness Reaching out to school children is a good approach as the younger you start the more ingrained will the awareness be Imparting basic lifesaving skills to the students in schools and colleges will be very effective in combating sudden deathrdquoThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever