Perfect Health Parade to earmark World No Tobacco Day 2009    New Delhi, Wednesday, May 27th 2009: To earmark the World No Tobacco Day, Heart Care Foundation of India and Department of Health and Family Welfare Govt. of Delhi in association with IMA New Delhi Branch, MCD, NDMC, other Departments of Delhi Govt, various NGO’s and Schools are organising the 9th Perfect Health Parade on Sunday 31st May starting from historic Rajghat.   Prof Kiran Walia Delhi State Health Minister will be the chief guest and Delhi State Chief Secretary; Sh. Rakesh Mehta will preside over the flag off function to be held at 11 am.  Addressing a press conference, in a joint statement, Dr K K Aggarwal President, Heart Care Foundation of India and Dr K.S.  Bhagotia, CMO from DHS on behalf of his department said that the parade after flagging off will move in all four directions of the city (North, South, West and East) in the form of tableaus with health messages for the benefit of the public. The parade will hault at regular intervals on the way to conduct health education activities with magic shows, nukkad nataks and distribution of literature.  Others who addressed the press were, Sr.officers from various Delhi Govt.Departments,which included Dr S.Bindra Director,Family Welfare, Dr R K Manchanda Dy Director, ISM & H, Dr R P Vashist, Dy Director, Health, Dr Anil Kumar Sr. Scientific Officer,Dept.of Environment,      Sh. Mohan Lal, Director, Dept.of Prevention of Food Adulteration       Dr. B S Banerjee Project Director, from DSACS, Dr N K Yadav, MHO- MCD, Dr P K Sharma, MOH NDMC,and Sh P K Jaggi from Drug Controller, Dr PPS Sethi President, IMA New Delhi Branch.  Smoking is the biggest preventable menace of the mankind. Smoking, alcohol, drugs, eating refined carbohydrates are the current epidemic addictions of the society. Through the Parade, awareness will be created on the importance of quitting early from these addictions.  No animals, birds or insects eat tobacco crop because they also know that it is harmful for the health.From this year the Govt. of India has also made it compulsory to put big warning on the packs.     Eminent Kathak Exponent Ms Shovna Narayan star attraction of the press conference said that parade is a low cost health awareness module which can be used in the rural areas of the country to spread health awareness. She added that dancing, singing, yoga, fun and recreation are all integral part of wellness. She said both listening to music and singing has meditative value. She called upon the public to witness the Parade in large numbers.  The concept of Parade is a reproducible, feasible and cost effective IEC module and can be adopted in every district or state. It works on the lines of Republic Day Parade but instead of defense, the focus is on health.   The Parade is nothing but a mix of tableau and vehicles with health messages moving all around the city. It can be equated to health messages on wheels ki baraat. The Parade will focus on every possible    preventive aspect of health with special emphasis on harmful effects of smoking.     Delhi Govt. Health Department will create awareness on all national health programmes including tuberculosis, blindness, HIV, emergency services, food adulteration, etc with a focus on no smoking activities of the government.   In view of the on coming Common Wealth Games, Delhi is committed in providing state of the art primary to tertiary health care to the citizens of Delhi and also to all the international visitors. The Parade would be an alarm for the people to combat the rising incidence of various physical, mental and environmental diseases.   It is a misnomer that dengue and malaria prevention strategies need to be started only during monsoon. Vector borne diseases are endemic in Delhi and cases will be seen throughout the year but will only peak during the monsoon season. Through the Parade, awareness will also be created about malaria, dengue, TB, meningococcal disease, chikengunya and summer disorders. ISM Dept. will have a special tableau on the role of Ayerveda in preventing various diseases.NDMC will create special awareness on safe drinking water and anti smoking effects.   The March will comprise of tableaus, motor cycles, cycles, street plays, folk dances, etc. It will further emphasize on mobile exhibition and distribution of vigilance material. The major idea is to sensitize the people on health needs. The Parade will be flagged off at the Capital at 11 AM on May 31st Sunday outside Raghat and will culminate again at Rajghat at about 4 PM (covering a distance of almost 200 kms.) under the following routes.         PARADE ROUTE East Zone: Rajghat – ITO-Laxmi Nagar-Shakarpur- Jagat Cinema-Karkardoma- Krishna Nagar-Metro Station Welcome-New Seelampur- Old Seelampur-Gokal Puri-Yamuna Vihar-Bhajanpura-Shastri Nagar-Wazirabad Bridge- ISBT –Rajghat(End).  West Zone: Rajghat –Delhi Gate-Pahar Gunj – Sadar -Karol Bagh,-Pusa Road-Patel Nagar-Shadipur Depot flyover-Kirti Nagar-Raja Garden – Tilak Nagar Flyover-–Tihar Jail Road –Janakpuri-Mayapuri-Delhi Cantt.-Daula Kaun-Wellington Crescent Marg (Taj Palace Hotel Rd)RML Hosp.-Goal Market-Inner Circle CP-Barakhamba Rd-ITO-Rajghat(End)  South Zone : Rajghat - Ashram – Srinivaspuri –Okhla Mandi-( under Modi Mill Flyover) Nehru Place-Chirag Delhi Flyover-Panchsheel Park- IIT Gate – Munirka-R.K.Puram Sec 6/8-Bhikaji Gama Place-Safdarjung Hosp.-AIIMS-Delhi Haat-INA(under the Safdarjung Flyover)-South Extn.—Kotla Mubarakpur-Lodi Road(opp.Sai Baba Temple)-Khan Market.-Delhi Zoo-Pragati Maidan-Rajghat(End).   North Zone: Rajghat - Red Fort - Kashmere Gate -– Civil Lines - Delhi University North Campus -– Azadpur - Punjabi Bagh-Naraina-Daula Kasun-Moti Bagh Gurdwara-Chankya Puri-Malcha Marg-Teen Murti-Raja Ji Marg- Udyog Bhavan-Rail Bhavan-Rajender Pd Road(Shastri Bhavan)-Meridian Hotel-Feroz Shah Rd-Tilak Bridge(via Mandi House)-ITO-Rajghat(End)