Experts talk about the Nutritional management of Non-Communicable and Chronic Diseases & Economic Empowerment of Women

The Voice of Chandigarh News:

The Second Conference of Chief Secretaries is going to be held in January with a theme Viksit Bharat– Reaching the Last Mile. A workshop to provide inputs for the same was conducted by the Health Department on Nutritional management of Non Communicable and Chronic Diseases at Hotel Mountview.

Department of Social Welfare Women and Child Welfare also organized a Workshop titled “Thematic Session on Economic Empowerment of Women”.

The session highlighted how Gender Disparity is visible in society and cannot be ignored. Empowering our womenfolk is the need of the hour. There is a gap between the policies run by Government for women and availing of these by women. It was stressed that this gap needs to be bridged through awareness, education, behavioural change and change of mindset of all.

The workshop also focussed on Capacity building of officials of different departments of Chandigarh Administration along with representatives of various CSOs working for women upliftment and empowerment.

It was discussed that the gap in economic empowerment of women can be bridged through change of mindset, awareness and education with a holistic approach and inclusion of collaborative efforts of all stakeholders. Mental wellbeing of women along with understanding of having a ‘ME time’ by the women is very important, which is often neglected by families.

The workshop on Nutritional management of Non Communicable and Chronic Diseases was an informative session as the experts stressed on the fact that change in lifestyle, i.e eating healthy/ well balanced food and physical activity can prevent most of the non comunicable diseases including cancer, and 40 to 50% of cancers can be reduced by change in diet.

Unhealthy diet is a modifiable risk factor for developing NCDs. Losses due to premature deaths related to heart diseases, stroke and Diabetes are also projected to increase over the years. Unhealthy diet and a lack of physical activity may show up in people as raised blood pressure, increased blood glucose and obesity.

To lessen the impact of NCDs on individuals and society, a comprehensive approach is needed wherein all sectors, like health, finance, transport, education, agriculture, etc must collaborate to reduce the risks associated with NCDs. Hence Greater inter sectoral coordination is needed. It is essential to create awareness in the community regarding healthy diet keeping the target population in mind and thereby improving quality of life

Focus on school children by giving them healthy tiffin, having healthy food options in the school canteen and encouraging physical activities in schools is the need of the hour . The need for multisectoral participation was also stressed upon.

The Government has also declared 2023 as the year of millet, to educate and encourage the public about the nutrient value of millets. The need to focus on public awareness about nutrition and its role in NCD ‘s and chronic diseases was also emphasised.