Mangaluru: The District administration in association with the DK Zilla Panchayat, District Health and Family Welfare and the Mangalore City Corporation held a workshop on Non Communicable diseases for the elected members at TMA Pai Conventional Hall here, on October 5.
The programme began with an invocation. District Health Officer Dr Ramakrishna Rao welcomed the gathering. District minister in-charge Ramanath Rai inaugurated the programme by lighting the traditional lamp along with other dignitaries on the dais.
Addressing the gathering, Health Minister U T Khader said that nowadays, hypertension and diabetes has drastically increased. “In this regard, we need to bring awareness among the people. Elected members are very near to the ward members. If we bring awareness among the elected members, they can reach out to the people in their respective areas.”
Khader further said that we need to create a healthy society. The health schemes from the government should reach every family. “Sometimes people are not aware of the schemes and they hesitate to go to the hospital due to poverty. In such situations, the Gram Panchayat members should take the initiative and help the people in their respective areas to avail the benefits of the health schemes. People will remember such leaders who help them in their time of need.”
Recalling his service to the society, Khader said, “People remember me because when there are accidents, I give my vehicle to them so that they will reach the hospital in time, I can always find out some others means to travel. We need to involve ourselves in serving the society, then only people will like us”. Giving examples to retain health, he said, “When children are small, every mother wants her child to be chubby and she puts all her efforts to make her child look so. When the same child grows old, it develops various health problems. In this regard, mothers should play a vital role and provide diet food keeping in mind the health of their children, so that when the child grows, it will be healthy.”
MLA J R Lobo presided over the programme. MLC Ivan D’Souza, Deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim, MLA Shakunthala Shetty, CEO Of ZP Srividya, Mayor Jacintha Alfred, deputy mayor Purushotham Chitrapur, Campaign director KHSDRP Bengaluru Soujanya, Dr Horay, Director Health and family welfare services Bengaluru Dr G M Vamadeva, joint dirctor NCD Bengaluru Dr Padma M R, President of Zilla Panchayat Asha Thimappa Gowda, joint director NVBDCP and nodal officer Dr Prakash Kumar B G and others were also present.