Prez urged doctors to step up awareness campaign in rural areas

Tirupati, Jul 7 (UNI) President Prathiba Patil Devisingh today stressed that the medical institutions and medical professionals must step up efforts to motivate people to adopt healthier lifestyles and in the context , undertake awareness campaigns especially in the rural areas.

Addressing at the first Convocation of the Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical and Sciences(SVIMS) and University here, the President said several studies have established a clear link between cancer and unhealthy practices like tobacco chewing. Still, people continue to cultivate such harmful habits and many of the lifestyle diseases like diabetes and blood pressure can be treated with a high degree of success through education.

Today, there are 271 medical colleges all over the country out of which about 31,000 medical graduates pass out every year, but we only have half a doctor for every 1,000 persons as compared with 2.3 per 1,000 in the United States, she said adding the penetration of health services in rural areas is particularly low and needed many more doctors and institutions to meet the demand in the country.

India ranks among the world's leading nations with regard to advances in medical technology and we, therefore, must constantly strive for high standards of medical education and professional ethics, she stressed.

Quoting Mahatma Gandhi she said '' It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver''. Therefore, healthy citizens make a healthy nation, which can be truly wealthy.

We need to have a special focus on making health facilities available to the majority of our population residing in rural areas, especially women, children and the elderly, she added.

She said SVIMS is extending support for the execution of health schemes of the central and the state governments and the young doctors who are passing out today should follow the enthusiasm of the 91-year-old world renowned Cardiologist Dr.Padmavati Sivarama Kirhsna, who is still doing wonders in her field and also appreciated Padma Bhushan Dr V Shanti for her contributions in the medical field.

UNI KNR MIR AS2200