Let Each Person Stay Healthy and Fit
A healthy soul inheres in a healthy body, so goes the adage. The symbiotic relationship
between the mind and body has been reiterated and corroborated over and over again,
in all societies, philosophies and in curative systems as well. So, there is wish “sarve santu
niramaya” (Let each human be disease-free). The recent interest in Yoga and concept of
‘back to nature’ are pointers to the resurging concern of people for health.
Breakthroughs and advancements in health sciences notwithstanding, majority of
people in developing countries continue to suffer from malnutrition and disease due to
ignorance and/or prohibitive cost of treatment. At the same time, there are several
simple, easy-to-do measures that can keep the human populations fit and avert the
onset of several diseases. Perturbed at shift of populations to urban conglomerations
which has bearing on overloading of available urban infrastructure and health of
populations, the World Health Organisation has identified ‘Urbanisation and Health’ as
this year’s theme for World Health Day being celebrated on 7 April. The world body has
advised the kind of preventive efforts that can reduce the burden of disease in developing
countries. These include running mass campaigns for educating the lay people on
how best to keep healthy. A programme per se, is not enough to bring the desired result,
it’s the involvement of masses that can help us realise the goal of Health for All.
The celebrations of forthcoming Safe Notherhood Day (11 April) draw our attention
to the high maternal and infant mortality prevailing in our country. According to
White Ribbon Alliance, each minute a woman dies of pregnancy-related complication;
ironically, most of such deaths are preventable. This year’s theme is Play Your Part
The situation warrants the child care functionaries to put in greater efforts in ensuring
that all pregnant and lactating women are educated on proper upkeep during pregnancy.
We at TNAI have been rendering our job by not only organising programmes
on the issue but also pleading for better delivery of services. We hope, a better sense
shall dawn on all concerned, in everybody’s interest.
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