Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram

Health project launched to mark World Health Day

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM APRIL 8. The launch of the Indian Medical Association's "Keralites move for Health'' project, mass walk attended by people from all walks of life, seminars and discussions on public health marked the observance of World Health Day in the State capital on Sunday.

The "Keralites move for Health'' project, being implemented by the IMA through it's 85 branches in the State to propagate the World Health Day slogan, "Move for Health'', was inaugurated by the Health Minister, P. Sankaran, at a function held in the IMA buildings.

Under the project, a walker's forum will be set up under each branch of the IMA and leaflets on health-related issues such as the need for quitting smoking and the need for lifestyle modifications would be distributed to them.

The IMA has plans to rope in college and school students to implement the project.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Sankaran lauded the role played by the IMA's local units in spreading awareness among the population of the State and the doctors on health-related issues.

The Minister urged the association to take up social issues too.

Asserting that corruption would be weeded out from Government hospitals and the medical sector, the Health Minister said the Government was committed to revamp the medical education and health sectors with the assistance of the various funding agencies.

The principal of Kochi Medical College, S. Hariharan, delivered the keynote address.

The IMA State president, R.V. Asokan, presided over the function, which was attended by the national vice-president, A. Marthanda Pillai, the national secretary, Sanjiv Malik, the State secretary, T. Suresh Kumar, the former national president, V. C. Velayudhan Pillai, and the joint secretary, Sreejith N. Kumar.

People from all walks of life participated in a mass walk organised from the Museum gate to Jimmy George stadium to mark the day in the evening.

The senior Congress leader, K. Karunakaran, flagged off the walk.

The Health Minister, P. Sankaran, and V. S. Sivakumar, MP, were among those who participated. Later, a public meeting was organised at the Jimmy George stadium.

The Health Minister also inaugurated a function organised by Indian Red Cross to mark the day.

At another function organised at the Medical College Hospital, Mr. Sankaran laid the foundation stone for the golden jubilee gate.

He also kicked off a cleaning campaign being implemented with the help of NSS volunteers.

Mr. Sivakumar presided over the function.

Mr. K. Mohankumar, MLA, and the Mayor, J. Chandra, were among those who spoke.

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