THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : It was more than 500 children coming together in the shape of a heart under the aegis of KIMSHEALTH on the occasion of World Heart Day at Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium here. Food and  Civil Supplies Minister, Adv. G.R Anil inaugurated the function which saw more than 100 students roller-skating into the stadium from Kowdiar to spread the message of a healthy heart. Alongside, students of KIMS College of Nursing presented an awareness skit as well as a flash mob consisting of more than 100 students.

Health workers are striving to build a disease-free society,  Minister Adv G R Anil said in his inaugural address. Even while heart ailments could be treated, there was the need to have changes in lifestyle and food habits, he stressed.  The Minister pointed out that heart ailments could prove fatal and one has to prevent them. It was in this backdrop that he had a word of praise for KIMSHEALTH which initiated the programme to create awareness about the dangerous consequences of heart ailments. The first thing that one did when one took ill was to go to the nearest and best hospital and that was where again KIMSHEALTH’s commendable treatment and care had got society’s acknowledgement, he added.

“If earlier elderly people were taken to hospital by their children, the situation now has changed where the youth had become prone to ailments, especially those relating to the heart. This can be prevented only by children and youth who should be made responsible to take care of the heart of the nation and also that of every individual. This initiative involving children is an indicator of this. To prevent heart diseases, diet and blood pressure should be under control. This programme is most opportune and timely in the way forward,” KIMSHEALTH Chairman and Managing Director Dr. MI Sahadulla said.

KIMSHEALTH Executive Director EM Najeeb, Cardiac Surgery Department Head Dr. Shaji Palangadan, Cardiology Department Consultant Dr. Praveen S.V, Dr. Joseph Thomas, CEO Jerry Philip and Deputy General Manager Saravanan Iyer were present on the occasion.