Happy Hearts Healthy Hearts Campaign at PU

Chandigarh September 28, 2019

            University Institute of Applied Management Sciences(UIAMS), in association with NSS Panjab University and Ojas Super Specialty Hospital Panchkula, organised ‘Happy Hearts Healthy Hearts Campaign’ at Panjab University Campus as a part of World Heart Day Celebrations. The theme of this year’s World Heart Day focuses on three important and pertinent aspects of cardiovascular health, and that is promotion of physical activity, healthy diet habits, and to create awareness against smoking.

            The Campaign was inaugurated at UIAMS premises, by Professor Shankarji Jha, Dean University Instructions along with Professor Upasana Joshi Sethi, Director UIAMS, and Professor Navdeep Sharma, Coordinator NSS. Professor Jha appreciated the students for being part of the world heart day celebrations, and apprised them of the importance of ancient Indian values of following a disciplined life. The dignitaries and NSS program officers then flagged off the Quit Smoking Rally in which around 175 students from various departments of Panjab University took part. The students showcased the placards to spread awareness about the ill-effects of smoking, both on heart and on other organs of the body. The rally culminated at Student Centre in north campus, where a twenty minute aerobic exercise session was held in which the students, NSS program officers, Ojas hospital team, and faculty members of UIAMS took part.

            This session was guided by four volunteers from Hamari Kaksha, a non-profit organization based in Chandigarh, which provides education to underprivileged children and their mothers.

            This was followed by an educative talk on heart health by Dr.Anurag Sharma, Director and Chief Cardiologist, Ojas super specialty Hospital, Panchkula. 

            Dr.Anurag highlighted the importance of healthy diet, physical activity, and good sleep hygiene to keep heart healthy for a longer period. He also conveyed an important message, which is to avoid smoking and alcohol, as these are the major cause of most of the chronic diseases in later life, notably heart disease, stroke and cancer. He also stressed the importance of cultivating habits amongst the young students, as this is the best way to keep oneself stress free. At the end of the session, health diet snacks were distributed to all the students to bring in the awareness about ill effects of junk food and to promote healthy food choices.