Perfect Health Parade Held in Capital New Delhi Sunday 31st May  2009: A much-needed health campaign, Perfect Health Parade unique in many respects, was flagged off here today by City Health Minister Prof Kiran Walia at the historic Raghat here today. The parade comprised of tableaus, motor cycles, cycles, street plays, folk dances, etc. It further emphasized on mobile exhibition and distribution of vigilance material. The major idea was to sensitize the people on health needs. Presiding over the Parade Delhi Chief Secretary, Sh Rakesh Mehta emphasized on every household especially in the jhuggijhonpri areas to take care of the health of their women and children.  This was essential to combat various health disorders, which have been going up due to a faulty lifestyle and need concerted efforts at the level of politicians, doctors, paramedical workers and public. Guest of Honor for the function Sh. J P Singh Principal Secretary Health & Family Welfare Govt of Delhi said that regular exercise, yoga and meditation were essential to keep the diseases away from the individual and the society. He also advised the people, for a change in lifestyle. Heart Care Foundation of India, Department of Health and Family Welfare Govt. of Delhi in association with Municipal Corporation of Delhi, New Delhi Municipal Council, IMA New Delhi Branch and various Delhi Govt. Departments on occasion of the World No Tobacco Day jointly organized today's health parade on the theme “Make Delhi Tobacco free”. Leaving Rajghat and going in all five directions the Parade re-assembled at Rajghat after about six hours covering a distance of over 200 km via four different routes. . The Parade unique in many respects was interspersed with various health messages in the form of slogans some of which caught attention of the public. "Vegetarians are stronger, they live longer"; "Food of plant in origin contains no cholesterol” "Daily exercise is best against disease"; "Health of women & children is imperative for general health in every household"; "A change in lifestyle is essential to ward off the risk of infection";  "The more you eat, the earlier you leave the planet"  "keep your blood pressure lower than 120/80"; "longer the waist line shorter the life line" If your spouse stops smoking, you're 67 percent less likely to continue smoking. If your friend kicks the habit, it's about 36 percent less likely that you'll be smoking. When a sibling gives up cigarettes, your risk of smoking decreases by 25 percent. And, it drops by 34 percent if a co-worker in a small office quits smoking. Nicotine is as addictive as heroin and cocaine, stated a US Surgeon General Report in 1988. 52.2% of children in India who had their first smoke are influenced by tobacco use depicted in movies. 76% of Indian movies have tobacco use shown in them. 40% of health related problems and 50% of cancer deaths, majority of cardio-vascular and lung disorders are due to tobacco use in India. Dr KK Aggarwal President Heart Care Foundation of India and Director IMAAKN Sinha Institute said that good sangat is one of the established principles of Vedic literature. Sangat is the company of people you live with. Living in the company of good people makes one good and the reverse is also true. The same is now being proved in the allopathic context. A new research in New England Journal of Medicine has shown that when one person quits smoking, that others are likely to follow. One person quitting can cause a ripple effect, making others more likely to kick the habit. It's sort of like watching dominoes. If one falls, it very quickly causes others to fall. People are not quitting on their own; they're quitting in droves. We should treat people in groups, rather than as individuals. Friends and family need to be involved. If you want to quit, try to get close friends and family to quit as well. Quitting smoking may have the side benefit of improving social well-being, just as it improves physical health. Dr. Aggarwal further pointed out that people need to be encouraged to come back on the roads and walk. They should use less of remote control TV and cordless phones and take every opportunity at the house to move wherever possible. It is necessary that every doctor must devote a few minutes with his patient to explain the importance of day to day movements and exercises in attaining complete health. Dr Lal, Director Health Services Govt. of Delhi said that the new mantra for perfect health is to focus every action to physical, mental and spiritual well being of the people. Chetan Sharma and Vijay Dahiya noted former national cricketers and Guests of Honour on the occasion pointed out that preventive measure were vital for health. "Doctors, nurses and paramedical workers from all systems of medicine are required to join hands to uplift the health standards of the people. Environmentalists, communicators and social activists should also become a part of the joint effort to create health awareness". Dr V K Monga Chairman MCD health committee said that a pollution free atmosphere was essential for health and should be the major aim of any government. Dr. N K Yadav MHO MCD and Dr P K Sharma MOH NDMC in a joint statement pointed out that preventive health strategy has emerged as an important means of maintaining health and it should be made a part of study and training for undergraduate medical students at the graduate level. They stressed on the need to educate the elderly.   Dr R K Manchanda Dy Director ISM emphasized on the need to adopt Indian system of medicines and health. Observing that yoga and meditation had a long-term solution to many problems, he expressed himself in favour of a synthesis between Allopathy and the Indian system of medicine. Ms. Nalini & Ms. Kamalini, eminent kathak dancers, jointly emphasized on integrating eastern philosophy with western technologies. They also stressed on acquiring vedantic knowledge and its implementation in day to day living. "You can be healthy and happy only if there is a complete integration of physical, psychological, spiritual and environmental health". Dr PPS Sethi President IMA New Delhi Branch emphasized on the need to do regular exercise. "Even if one walks for five to ten minutes a few times a day it is sufficient to provide all the benefits of health." Thousands of people took part in today's march.  The Parade, which followed the Republic Day pattern, included mobile tableaus on tempos, trucks, buses and contingents of various schools and college students who were carrying placards on different aspects of health