Seminars, rallies, awareness runs, health camps, fitness talks, cleanliness campaigns, cultural programmes and a number of other events across the country marked the World Health Day in India this year. Seventy five cities participated in the ‘1000 Cities 1000 Lives’ campaign with the national and state governments, municipal authorities, government and private institutes, NGOs, partner organizations and individuals organizing events to promote physical and mental health among urban population.

In New Delhi, on April 7 the Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, inaugurated an exhibition cum panel discussion on ‘Urbanisation and Health’. WHO South East Asia Region Deputy Regional Director, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, and top national health experts participated in the event organized at India’s premier institute - the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.  A number of rallies were organized by NGOs in slum areas of Delhi with messages promoting health, clean and green Delhi etc.

On April 11, a mass Awareness Run was flagged off by the Delhi Health Minister, Prof Kiran Walia, from the sprawling grounds of Rajghat, the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi. People from all walk of life and all age groups, including senior citizens, participated. A cycle rally, skating, karate, taekwondo, painting competition for children, performance by a school band and a colorful cultural programme was also organized on the occasion.

A panel discussion on healthy cities with national experts and WHO, live phone-in programmes and messages on ‘Urbanisation and Health’ were aired on the National Radio Programme and private FM channels around the World Health Day.

Elsewhere in the country, events were organized in a number of cities also facilitated by WHO collaborating centres and WHO-National Polio Surveillance Project.