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National Seminar on Life Style
Diseases- As silent killer
Date: 23 September 2010
Venue: Seminar hall, HHMSPBNSS College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram
Report
Seminar on “Life Style Diseases - As Silent Killers” was conducted
to create awareness among the public about the ill effects of
modern lifestyle on physical and mental health of people
especially the younger generation and methods to overcome them.
It was also aimed to generate awareness on healthy lifestyle
among the student community and thus to create an impact in the
society.
The programme began on 23rd September 2010 in the college
seminar hall. The inaugural session commenced with Prayer and
Acharya Anumsaranam. Dr. N. S. Jayalekshmi, Convenor and Head,
Department of Zoology, introduced the topic of seminar to
audience and welcomed all dignitaries, delegates and students.
Dr. Kumari K Prema, Principal and Chairperson of the seminar
delivered presidential address. Dr. Usha Titus IAS, Secretary,
Health & Social welfare, Govt.of Kerala, cannot attend the
function due to some personal inconvenience and the seminar was
inaugurated by Dr. Meenu Hariharan MD, DM, Director, Kerala
State Institute of Diabetes. She delivered the keynote address
on the various aspects of lifestyle diseases. The talk was
informative and interesting to all. In her speech she emphasized
that we must follow healthy food habits. She compared the
traditional food habit with the present day food habit. Very
vividly she gave a shocking statistical data about various
lifestyle diseases like diabetes, obesity, blood pressure and
the consequence of smoking and alcohol in India, especially in
Kerala. She gave the message in a nut shell as “An ounce of
prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Dr. C. K. Peethambaran MSc
(Ag), PhD, Director of Research (Rtd), Kerala Agricultural
University & Consultant, Kerala State IT Mission, felicitated
the seminar with his magnificent words. Dr. M. Premeela, Senior
Lecturer, Department of Zoology, mentioned vote of thanks to all
participants.
The first technical session began with a talk on “Epidemic of
Diabetes and Lifestyle Diseases” by Dr. V. Mohanan Nair MBBS,
MPH, FCGP, MHSc (Canada), Deputy Director of Health Services,
Director of Kerala State Institute of Health & Family Welfare,
First Nodal Officer, NPDCS. He grabbed the attention of audience
with citing his own childhood days and life of younger
generation and the unhealthy behavior in all respects. He
pointed out main factors, which contribute to diabetes like
insulin resistance, demographic transitions and blindness that
is caused due to diabetes.
After lunch the second technical session began. Dr. Yoganadhan
Nampoothiri M.N., MBBS, MS, MCh, Director and Chief Cardiac
Surgeon, Sree Gokulam Heart Centre, Venjaramood, dealt with the
topic “Changing Life Styles and Heart Diseases.” He talked about
every simple and basic factor, which we could follow in our
daily life to prevent the Coronary Heart disease to a great
extent.
The third technical session started after tea break by Dr. Amar
S Fettle DNB Paediatrics, Consultant, Department of Paediatrics,
Government General Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram & District
Surveillance Officer, ISDP, Thiruvananthapuram. His talk on
“Stress, Depression, Modern Life Style and Adolescence”
enlightened the audience. He spoke about the causes of stress
and also ways to overcome stress.
Next day 24th September 2010, the morning session began at 9.30
am with Presentations. This session was chaired by Dr. P. R.
Geetha PhD, Reader & Head of the Department, P. G. Department of
Zoology & Research Centre, Mahatma Gandhi College,
Thiruvananthapuram. Fourteen papers presented in the session and
the presentations were based on the various aspects related to
Life style diseases.
The next session began after tea break. This session was engaged
by Dr. M. Iyappan BSc, MS, FAIS, Professor& Head, Department of
General Surgery, Mookambika Institute of Medical Sciences,
Kulasekharam, Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, who dealt with
‘Medical Aspects of Life style Diseases’. He spoke about the top
ten life style diseases beginning with cancer, and how
accidents, our food habits, alcoholism, etc lead to different
diseases. He mentioned the importance of clean habits to be
promoted in view of preventing diseases. The next technical
session was of Dr. Suresh Balan DCH, MD, PGDHA, Assistant
Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Kanyakumari
Government Medical College, Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, who discussed
the ‘Life Style Diseases and its Prevention’. He specified the
primary and secondary preventive methods. He also stressed the
need for primordial prevention, which means educating people of
poor countries about the preventive measures before they attain
a developed state. He concluded by giving dietary guidelines for
healthy life styles. He also pointed out the need of physical
fitness rather than physical activity in preventing life style
diseases.
Dr. C. Suresh Kumar MBBS, DCH, Consultant-Pediatrics &
Superintendent, Taluk Head Quarters Hospital, Chittur, Palakkad,
Co-ordinator, Annam-Good Food Movement, India, dealt with the
topic “Fast Food and Life Style Diseases.” He pointed out the
fact that in spite of all our achievements in the field of
health education and care in Kerala (The Kerala Model), we are
more and more prone to infectious diseases. All these lead to
much health related problems in the society as a whole. He
emphasized the fact that fast food leads to fast death.
The valedictory session began at 3 pm. Dr. K. P. Ouseph IFS,
Chief Conservator of Forest (Development), Forest Head Quarters,
Thiruvananthapuram, delivered the valedictory address. He
pinpointed the need of determination, eco friendly approaches,
and gave the tips of healthy life style for a better future. Dr.
K. G. Ajit Kumar PhD, Associate Professor, P. G. Department &
Research in Botany, Mahatma Gandhi College, Thiruvananthapuram,
gave a briefing of the two days event. Ms. K. Sumathy, mentioned
vote of thanks and the programme came to an end at 4.00 pm.
The seminar was attended by 234 participants. It was gratifying
for the organizing committee to note that the seminar was highly
appreciated by the participants as it succeeded in achieving its
goal.
Dr. N.S.Jayalekshmi
Convenor
Dr. Kumari K Prema
Principal |
