Amputation Free India: Walk a Mile to Live with Smile organized by PGI Chandigarh

Chandigarh: Over 350 people participated in a Walkathon, ''Walk a mile to Live with A Smile', to mark the observance of Vascular Day in Chandigarh on Sunday. 

Walkathon organised by the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education& Research's (PGIMER) Department of General Surgery and Vascular Society of India, under the “Amputation Free India” campaign, witnessed the participation of senior faculty members, resident doctors, nursing officers, youngsters, and other walking enthusiasts.

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The Walkathon started off at PGIMER and culminated at Sukhna Lake covering a distance of six kms, release said.

Nitin Yadav, Home Secretary Chandigarh Administration, congratulated the participants, saying that they all joined for the noble cause of amputation-free India with great enthusiasm.

“Let us take it as our social responsibility to help our people understand the need for a healthy lifestyle and the significant importance of daily walking for 30-45 minutes in everyday routine to have healthy and disease-free legs. It has the dual benefits of keeping us and the environment in good shape. So let us walk more and drive less to keep our ‘limbs’ and our ‘city’ healthy,” Yadav said.

Earlier, the Walkathon was flagged off by Chief Guest Kumar Gaurav Dhawan, Deputy Director (Administration), PGIMER from Kairon Block, PGIMER amid huge applause. Dr Arunanshu Behera, Head, the Department of General Surgery, PGIMER was also present on the occasion.

Dhawan terming the response as overwhelming during the flag-off ceremony, stated, “We’re probably well aware of the increase in the incidence of peripheral arterial disease due to excessive use of smoking, diabetes mellitus and ageing. Thus, by organising this Walkathon, we want to disperse a message of a healthier lifestyle by inculcating a daily routine of 30-45 minutes of walking.”

Behera urged for proactive engagement on a continuous basis to help create awareness about the need for daily walk-in routines to keep our legs healthy.

Expressing his concern, Dr Ajay Savlania, Vascular Surgeon from the Dept of General Surgery, PGIMER said, “ In the world, approximate 23.7 crore people have lower extremity peripheral vascular disease (blockage of the arteries of legs which can lead to amputation of legs), of whom three quarters are in low- or middle-income countries. In India, 4.3% population (4.1-5 crore) suffer from peripheral vascular disease which can be contained to a large extent with something as basic as walking for 30-45 minutes on a daily basis.”