helpyourbody Mumbai
The demographic dividend of India’s young productive human capital is under siege as we gradually acquire the dubious status of the ‘chronic disease capital of the world’ with metabolic disorders like cardiovascular disease and diabetes threatening the very future of our country. India with a median age of 24, is on the brink of a health catastrophe.
At the Piramal Group, we believe that the answer to young India’s health problem is with India’s youth itself. Young change agents can help us realize our vision for a healthy billion. As a society, we’ve been ‘working on the youth’ instead of ‘working with them’. We can empower the youth today for a healthy tomorrow.
helpyourbody Mumbai, a one-of-its-kind inter medical college challenge involved 8 leading Mumbai based medical institutions. As part of the challenge, medical students adopted a particular Mumbai based community and implemented an on-ground community healthcare project tackling chronic diseases with the chosen community’s members.
Communities like rickshaw drivers, taxi drivers, dabbawallahs, BEST bus staff etc. are the ‘lifeline’ of Mumbai and ironically are at the highest risk of chronic diseases due to lack of awareness and inadequate medical facilities.
Medical students armed with knowledge, expertise and most importantly, an undying enthusiasm worked hands-on with communities ranging from house wives to Mumbai Police towards a healthy Mumbai. Mentorship and seed capital was provided to these students to enable them to execute their community projects.
The Grand Finale night held on 16th February 2010 saw the top 3 teams presenting their community projects live before an eminent jury panel comprising Dr. Bhavin Jankharia (eminent radiologist), Dr. HB Chandalia (eminent endocrinologist), Kunal Kapoor (new age actor), Shaina NC (fashion designer and politician) and Dilip Vengsarkar (former captain of the Indian cricket team). The event was presided over by dignitaries including Shri Suresh Shetty (Miniter of Public Health & Welfare, Maharashtra State) and Shri Uttam Khobragade (General Manager – BEST Mumbai).
After a grueling round of QnA by the jury as well as the audience, Topiwala National Medical College & Nair Hospital, who worked on a childhood obesity campaign across 12 schools in Central Mumbai, were unanimously declared as the winners. The grand prize was an educational grant by Piramal Knowledge Academy.
Mr. Ajay Piramal (Chairman, Piramal Group) aptly summed up the evening by saying “we sincerely hope small steps like helpyourbody Mumbai will go a long way in changing the healthscape of the nation”.
Tags: challenge, community health, helpyourbody mumbai, medical colleges
