Arogya Alai - Isha's New Health Awareness Campaign
Arogya or health is one of the cornerstones of human wellbeing. Isha's Arogya Alai campaign is designed to promote simple and low cost solutions to make a substantial difference in health for the rural poor.
Arogya or health is one of the cornerstones of human wellbeing. Isha's Arogya Alai campaign is designed to promote simple and low cost solutions to make a substantial difference in health for the rural poor.
The Arogya Alai was launched on Sunday, 13 July 2008 in the Corporation School, Peelamedu, Coimbatore. Sri B. Rajesh, Managing Director, Everon Castings (P) Ltd., welcomed the guests and Sri N. Karthick, Deputy Mayor, Coimbatore Corporation, presided over this event.
Dr. S. Rajasekaran, Chairman, Ganga Hospital, inaugurated the function and delivered the guest lecture, underlining the importance of giving every segment of the society access to essential health care. Dr. G. Bhakthavatsalam, Chairman, K.G. Hospital acknowledged the effective role of Sadhguru and the volunteers of Isha Foundation in enhancing the levels of health awareness and health care in Tamil Nadu. The vote of thanks was given by P. Krishnamurthy, Retired Director, Public Health and Preventive Medicine and State Food (Health) Authority of Tamil Nadu.
Sri Ramakrishna Hospital, K.G. Hospital, P.S.G. Hospital and Ganga Hospital have offered to support the implementation of Isha's Arogya Alai across the state while Isha will act as facilitator, drawing upon the rich experience of Action for Rural Rejuvenation in the field of rural health care.
Specially constituted and trained Health Awareness Teams consisting of doctors, public health professionals and paramedics will be visiting villages and working closely with the local population. Videos, print collaterals and interactive sessions were especially designed for this campaign to raise awareness about common health issues, impart knowledge about common diseases and their prevention, and motivate villagers to actively take care of their health by simple, easily available means and healthy practices.
Thousands of residents in and around Peelamedu, especially the economically weaker sections of society, benefitted from the first health camp which offered checkups and consultations related to dental, gynaecological, skin, ENT, orthopaedics and general medicine. In addition to the medical services, the camp focussed on malnutrition, an issue which is still very critical in India, even though its scope is often tragically underestimated even though every one out of three children in the world affected by malnutrition is Indian.
Between July 2008 to December 2009, the Arogya Alai will touch 5,000 villages of Tamil Nadu, promoting the health of 5 million people.
