STATE TO LAUNCH AWARENESS DRIVE ON LIFESTYLE DISEASES

STATE TO LAUNCH AWARENESS DRIVE ON LIFESTYLE DISEASES

The State government will soon launch a public awareness campaign on lifestyle diseases across the State, Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar has said.The Minister was inaugurating the newly set up advanced Emergency Medicine wing at the Pushpagiri Medical College (PMC) in Thiruvalla on Wednesday evening.Mr. Sivakumar said various surveys showed that lifestyle diseases were on a rise in Kerala too. The changing food culture in tune with the fast pace of life was the reason for the rise in various lifestyle diseases.The Minister said private healthcare centres also played a key role in improving the State’s health index. He said the service of the private sector had always been a good support to the government in improving the healthcare sector. These private-public initiatives helped Kerala in maintaining its position as a State with high public health standards in India.

Mr. Sivakumar said the State was witnessing an increase in the number of medical colleges in the past decade and the number was likely to go up further in the coming years.P.J. Kurien, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, inaugurated the public meeting held in connection with the inauguration of new emergency healthcare facility at PMC. Anto Antony, MP, inaugurated the Stat Lab at the Emergency Medicine wing on the occasion.Cardinal Baselius Cleemis Catholicos led the consecration ceremony, earlier. The Metropolitan Archbishop of Thiruvalla, Thomas Mar Coorilos, and Philipose Mar Stephanos, Auxiliary Bishop, were the co-celebrants. Kuriakose Mar Gregorios, Bishop of Knayana Church; Akeeramon Kalidasa Bhattathiri, Yogakhsema Sabha State president; Fr Shaji Vazhayil, PMC Chief Ececutive Officer; Fr Mathew Punakkulam, director; Roy Kallivayalil, All-India Psychiatric Association president, and Imam Nadir Maulavi also spoke.

Prof. John Kurakar