Over 100 stage shows, 50,000 visitors, 60 hours of fun filled activities only at HCFI’s 22nd MTNL Perfect Health Mela

Over 100 stage shows, 50,000 visitors, 60 hours of fun filled activities only at HCFI’s 22nd MTNL Perfect Health Mela

To feature first of its kind daily live webcasts by leading dignitaries including Attorney General Mr. Mukul Rohatgi, Chairman Medanta Dr. Naresh Trehan

New Delhi, October 29, 2015: The festive season is here, and various exhibitions and fairs are sprucing up in every nook and corner of the city. Bringing a different flavor to the ever so popular events culture of Delhi comes Heart Care Foundation of India’s annual flagship event, the MTNL Perfect Health Mela. In its 22^nd edition the Mela will take place on Nov 4-8, 2015 at the Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi from 8 am to 8 pm.

Organized by the Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI), in association with the Indian Medical Association, Ministry of Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, Textile, and AYUSH – Government of India, NDMC, MCD and MTNL; the Perfect Health Mela is a mélange of entertainment, lifestyle exhibitions, competitions, workshops, health education and check-ups. The event is based on the concept that an extremely effective way of creating mass awareness about preventive health measures is through entertainment.

Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee Dr. K K Aggarwal, President HCFI & Honorary Secretary General IMA said, "Preventive health education is key in an era characterized by premature heart attacks and strokes and an increased incidence of lifestyle diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and obesity. People are often oblivious to the severe damage they cause to their overall health by adopting unhealthy lifestyle choices like eating junk food, smoking, consuming alcohol, not exercising. In addition to this education about timely treatment especially in the cases of sudden cardiac arrest and strokes can help save numerous lives. This is the primary aim of HCFI's annual event, the MTNL Perfect Health Mela. The medium used to impart this education is a mix of on-ground health check-ups, entertainment, workshops, and competitions."

In its 22^nd edition, the Perfect Health Mela will have some first of its kind activities such as a daily live webcast service being hosted by MTNL and coordinated by eMedinexus, a one of its kind social communications platform for the medical fraternity. Dr. KK Aggarwal will host a special webcast on medical negligence and legal issues with renowned dignitaries including the Attorney General of India – Mr. Mukul Rohatgi and the Chairman of Medanta – the Medicity – Mr. Naresh Trehan on November 5^th as a part of this initiative. In addition to this, medical teams from Medanta and National Heart Institute will be providing live check-up and telemedicine facilities at the Mela venue.

Speaking about MTNL’s association with the event, Sh. A K Srivastava, Executive Director, MTNL Delhi said, “We are extremely happy to be associated with the Perfect Health Mela yet again as the title sponsor. This year in addition to providing tele-medicine facilities at the venue for patients with doctors from leading hospitals, we will also be providing free Wi-Fi facilities for all visitors.”

Supporting the event, Dr. P K Sharma, Medical Health Officer, NDMC and Dr. N K Yadav, Medical Health Officer SMCD in a joint statement said, “We believe that health and sanitation are key contributors to the overall health of a nation. And hence, special focus will be laid this year on how to ensure the water you use, the food you consume, the air you inhale, the earth where you live, are all pure and healthy. We encourage everyone to come and attend the event to learn about healthy lifestyle measures in a fun-filled way.”

Other features of the Mela will include:

·         Over 60 handlooms and craft stalls where visitors can shop for their Diwali gifts

·         The Indian Medical Association will be launching the UNESCO chairs in bioethics on November 7^th in the presence of six health vice chancellors

·         A special focus will also be given at the Mela towards preventive education about dengue and swine flu

·         The Mela venue will be a completely no smoking zone

·         The chief guest for the inauguration ceremony on Nov 4^th will be none other than Padma Vibhushan awardee Dr. Sonal Mansingh

Delivering preventive health advice on the occasion of World Stroke Day, Dr K K Aggarwal added, “A stroke occurs when the blood supply to your brain is interrupted or reduced. This deprives your brain of oxygen and nutrients, which can cause brain cells to die. The primary cause of this is a choked or leaked artery. Stroke is an acquired lifestyle induced ailment aggravated due to obesity, physical inactivity, regular heavy or binge drinking, smoking, hypertension, high cholesterol levels, diabetes, sleep apnea, family history and heart disease. Recognition of stroke symptoms through the F.A.S.T technique can help save a person’s life. If a person’s Face is dropping, has Arm weakness and Speech difficulty; Timely intervention is key by calling an ambulance. India is facing a stroke and heart disease epidemic, and we must work towards amending our high-stress lifestyle to reverse this trend and save lives."

For more information about the event, please visit www.perfecthealthmela.com. Entry to the Mela is free for all.