Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya with Union MoS for Health & Family Welfare Bharati Pawar and others participates in a walkathon from Vijay Chowk to Nirman Bhavan for promoting physical and mental well-being, on the occasion of World Health Day.
Apart from Mandaviya, Minister of State for Health Bharti Pravin Pawar also took part in the walkathon. The participants took a pledge to adopt healthy and active living to prevent and control lifestyle-related health problems such as hypertension, diabetes, mental illness and cancer.
Mandaviya thanked everyone for their participation in the event.
"India has the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam where we think about the progress of all and not just self. This philosophy was followed during the Covid crisis when India provided vaccines and medical supplies to the countries in need without considering any commercial profits," the Union health minister said.
Highlighting the significance of health in the country's development, Mandaviya said, "Under the leadership of the prime minister, India has connected health to development. Only healthy citizens can create a healthy society and, in turn, a developed nation. In this Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, I urge you all to work together to create a developed and healthy India."
Non-communicable diseases currently account for more than 63 per cent of all deaths in the country and are linked with major behavioural risk factors such as the use of tobacco and alcohol, poor dietary habits, insufficient physical activity and air pollution, the Union Health Ministry said in a statement.