SPEECH OF HON’BLE GOVERNOR PUNJAB AND ADMINISTRATOR, UT CHANIGARH, SHRI BANWARILAL PUROHIT ON THE OCCASION OF MEGA HEALTH CAMP TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTHDAY OF HON’BLE PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA, SHRI NARENDRA MODI JI ON 17.09.2022

· Celebrating the spirit of Seva, to encompass the service to every strata of society including elderly, women and children, Chandigarh Welfare Trust (CWT), along with the NID Foundation and Chandigarh University Gharuan is organizing a 15-day-long Seva Pakhwara beginning from today.

· I congratulate them for this venture of healthcare in the region.

· Health is an individual’s most primary possession. It is a valuable asset irrespective of the strata one belongs to. Mahatma Gandhi had said and I quote: "It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver” (unquote).

Friends,

· The health of a country’s population defines the state of development.

· A healthy population holds greater capacity to access opportunities for education, knowledge and employment.

· The importance of health care has never been so well understood as it in the present time. We saw how the pandemic brought economies and nations to their knees.

Friends,

· It was the moment of realisation that health is an investment in the future.

· We in Chandigarh have now addressed the gaps in our health system and upgraded our health infrastructure to combat any unforeseen situation in the future.

· Our 34 Health & Wellness Centers are being upgraded and modernized in such a way that Chandigarh becomes a role model for the rest of the country.

· We are also converting 16 Outreach Centers located in interior areas to Health & Wellness Centers to deliver services in every nook and corner of the city.

· The E-Sanjeevni Programme for the tele-consultation of patients running in all the dispensaries is receiving an overwhelming response.

· I am glad to inform you that the entire adult population of Chandigarh has been fully vaccinated with both doses.

· 100% population in the age group 15-18 years has been covered with 1st dose of Covid Vaccine.

· From this platform today, I urge all eligible citizens to take free Pre-caution Dose for their safety and wellbeing.

· We should be proud that Chandigarh has the best health care delivery system in resource-limited settings in the country and is worthy of emulation by other states engaged in developing a better health care delivery system.

· Coupled with government initiatives are the services of philanthropists and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) like your who render valuable service towards the healthcare of people.

· Your mega health camp forwards the Government of India’s revolutionary Ayushman Bharat scheme and the Fit India movement.

· It is aligned with our honorable Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi ji vision of providing accessible and affordable healthcare to the common man as well as to make fitness an integral part of our daily lives.

  • It is apt that you are holding this camp on the day, which is also the birthday of our honorable Prime Minister.

· I have been apprised that Different health services camps including Cancer detection, Eye-screening, Dental Check-up, General Health Check-up, Child health check-up, Orthopaedics, Mental Health Check-up, and Dermatology are being provided at the camp.Besides, A Mega Blood Donation Camp, a Prosthetic Limbs distribution camp and a Covid-vaccination drive are also being organized.

· The residents of the city should take full advantage of these health services of the mega camp.

· The CWT will organize a door-to-door awareness drive for water conservation, a drive under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat campaign to display unity through cultural diversity , an exhibition-cum-sale of Khadi products under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat campaign .

· It will also undertake a tree-plantation drive and will culminate with a mega cleanliness drive on Gandhi Jayanti.

· All these gestures are really noble and praiseworthy.

Friends,

· I personally believe that our health coverage strategy has to look beyond medical cure and intervention.

  • Preventive healthcare has to assume importance due to the increasing trend of lifestyle diseases .

· Our health system has to gear itself to treat people and also provide guidance about prevention of medical conditions.

  • A ‘Healthy India’ is possible! For that, disease prevention, early detection and treatment have to be encouraged.
  • A healthy living has to be fostered. Balanced diet, physical activity, lifestyle management and environment care have to be promoted to achieve well-being of mind and body.

· For ushering in healthy behaviour and practices, efforts have to be directed at change, in both individuals and communities.

Friends,

· In a country like India where lifestyle related diseases have shown a rising trend, precautionary strategies have become important. Our healthcare sector has to be equipped to not only treat people but also guide them about prevention of medical conditions. It calls for developing expertise to undertake counseling to foster healthy living.

· Here again NGOs, can play a very important role in information dissemination.

Further,

· Healthcare has to be a priority area for technological pursuits. Discovery of better formulations, finding of more efficient medical procedures, production of sophisticated medical equipments, and development of nutritional and disease surveillance mechanisms underline the need for greater usage of technology. It is technology based solutions that can up grade our healthcare standards substantially.

Today,

· We have over a 300 doctors and medicos rendering service in this mega camp. Just a word for you…..

My dear Doctors,

  • Medical profession and piety have a deep connection. This occupation is a noble mixture of knowledge and compassion. It empowers you to lend a helping hand to the society at larger; to touch and transform the lives of people.

· Remember that patients do not visit hospitals on their own volition. They do so when circumstances require them to. They go with an unwavering belief in being remedied by the marvel of medical science.

· Curing the sick and healing the bed-ridden are considered God’s own work carried out through your hands. The society admires you for your selfless endeavours; it holds you in high esteem; and views you with lofty expectations. The faith people repose in you is sacrosanct and has to be respected at all times.

· You have to be ever willing to adhere to the needs of hard work and sacrifice that your profession demands. I hope that you will remain steadfast in your conviction to the higher objective of selfless service to society . May you achieve greater success in life and career! In the words of Mahatma Gandhi: Happiness depends on what you can give; not what you can get.

· I wish to conclude by saying that the mission before us is to make health care comprehensive, universal, affordable and qualitatively professional. For achieving this objective, the journey ahead is going to be difficult it is important for us to work together in a constructive manner to fight the common enemy i.e. disease.

· Distinctions based on public vs private sector, allopathy vs traditional systems and urban areas vs rural areas, should not be given any importance . We should all join hand in hand and march together so that we achieve success.

Thank you,

Jai Hind.