Red Cross celebrates World Health Day 2015
Every year on 7th April World Health Day is being celebrated in the world to marks the anniversary of the founding of WHO in 1948. The theme for World Health Day 2015 is– “Food Safety” – from farm to plate make food safe. The World Health Day 2015 campaign focuses on unsafe food, the diseases they cause and simple precautions we can all take to protect ourselves and our families.
On this occasion a State level meeting was organized at 10 a.m. at Red Cross Bhavan. Sri Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, Hon’ble Minister Health & F.W, I & PR., Govt. of Odisha and Chairman, Working Committee, IRCS-OSB inaugurated the programme as the Chief Guest. By highlighting about food safety Sri.Nayak opined that access to sufficient amounts of safe and nutritious food is key to sustaining life and promoting good health. He said- this day is a reminder of the equal importance of food safety systems and food safety culture. Systems can be in place, but people drive the culture. We need to know those working in the industry understand their role in protecting our food safety reputation, he added. Besides, Sri Sudhansu Bhusan Mishra, IAS, Former Chief Secretary, Govt. of Odisha & Chairman, Health & Care Standing Committee,IRCS-OSB, Sri Bijay Kumar Mohanty, MLA, Bhubaneswar Madhya, Sri Priyadarshi Mishra, MLA, Bhubaneswar Uttara & Prof. Asha Hans, Lady Vice-President, IRCS-OSB joined as Guest of Honors in this occasion.
By addressing, Sri Priyadarshi Mishra said that YRC volunteers can promote awareness and understanding of food safety issues among the general public. Sri Bijay Kumar Mohanty also expressed that make safe food is a priority to prevent food borne diseases, protect the health of your family and community and be confident about the safety of the food you eat.
Sri Sudhansu Bhusan Mishra in his address he stressed that Foodborne diseases impede socioeconomic development by straining health care systems, and harming national economies, tourism and trade. During her address Prof. Asha Hans expressed that Food safety, nutrition and food security are inextricably linked. Unsafe food creates a vicious cycle of disease and malnutrition, particularly affecting infants, young children, elderly and the sick. And she opined that public plays important roles in promoting food safety, from practising safe food hygiene and learning how to take care when cooking specific foods that may be hazardous (like raw chicken), to reading the labels when buying and preparing food.
By highlighting the figures of food borne diseases Dr. Chakradhar Panda,Honorary Secretary of IRCS-OSB expressed that Foodborne and waterborne diarrheal disease kill an estimated 2 million people annually, including many children and particularly in developing countries. He said unsafe food creates a vicious cycle of diarrhoea and malnutrition, threatening the nutritional status of the most vulnerable. Unsafe food containing harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances, causes more than 200 diseases – ranging from diarrhoea to cancers. Foodborne illnesses are usually infectious or toxic in nature and caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances entering the body through contaminated food or water. cancers. Food safety is thus a prerequisite for food security.
The meeting was presided by Dr.Chakradhar Panda and ended with a vote of thanks by Sri Govinda Chandra Mahunta, Honorary Joint Secretary, IRCS-OSB.
To mark the celebration an awareness rally on food safety was organized from Red Cross Bhavan to Ram Mandir to Red Cross Bhvan, Bhubaneswar at 8.00 AM. Where more than 250 Red Cross Life Members, Youth Red Cross & Junior Red Cross volunteers and IRCS-OSB staffs participated and created awareness among public by holding placard and giving different slogans to make safe food to prevent food borne diseases. The rally was inaugurated by Sri Govinda Chandra Mahunta, Honorary Joint Secretary, IRCS-OSB. Besides IRCS-OSB has also organized a Free Health Check up camp at Kantabada, Khordha with the support of District Red Cross Branch, Khordha. Where patients were consulted and generic medicine were also provided to them.