IMA commits to make food safety a priority within its Swachh Bharat Swasth Bharat programme

Announces day long ‘World Health Day 2015 Celebrations’ in association with the Heart Care Foundation of India, Delhi Medical Association and NDMC

Addressing a press conference on the occasion of the upcoming World Health Day in New Delhi, Dr KK Aggarwal, Honorary Secretary General, Indian Medical Association (IMA) and President, Heart Care Foundation of India, said, “We at Indian Medical Association would like to invite all the ministries to join hands with us to make India a country free of diarrhoeal deaths.”

Dr Aggarwal informed that in an endeavour to raise awareness about food safety and prevent food and waterborne illness, they are organising a day-long awareness programmme at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium. The programme will be organised in association with the Heart Care Foundation of India, Delhi Medical Association and NDMC with special support from Indian Oil and the Lions Club.”

The activities of the World Health Day celebrations will include a Perfect Health Parade, CPR training camp, panel discussion open to the public consisting of leading influencers and doctors including paediatrician Dr Anupam Sachdeva, dietician Dr Shikha Sharma, renowned dancers Nalini and Kamilini, surgeon Dr RN Tandon amongst others.

Addressing the cause, Dr Marthanda Pillai, President, IMA said, “IMA will write to the health ministry, commerce ministry, consumer ministry and agriculture ministry, to join hands with IMA to get rid of diarrhoeal deaths in the country.”

Dr Aggarwal added, “At present the government has earmarked a budget worth Rs 33,152 crores for health. A separate budget for the Swachh Bharat campaign with six-crore toilets will bring hygiene and cleanliness; six-crore new houses with a toilet each under Amrut Mahotsav (75th year of independence), Rs 68968 crores for education and mid-day meals; Rs 5,300 crores for micro-irrigation, service tax exemption in cold storage services and transportation of food stuff by rail/road; and thousands of crores for agriculture ministry if properly utilised can make India a country free of food and water borne diseases.”

Sharing his views, Dr Ajay Lekhi, President, Delhi Medical Association and Dr PK Sharma, MOH, New Delhi Municipal Council in a joint statement said, “The way to good health is through proper education of the masses. For example, people should know that cut open fruits and vegetables are banned and one should not eat them. Through various public health activities, we hope that the message of food safety would reach to one and all and they would be better equipped to deal with each and every aspect of it. We are proud to be associated with this noble initiative of Heart Care Foundation of India and Indian Medical Association.”