Bengaluru gears up to become India’s first Arogya City

PTI, Nov 15, 2022, 10:19 AM IST

In a one-of-its-kind bid to stymie the growth of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the city, Rotary (District 3190), Arogya World, and Bangalore Political Action Committee (B.PAC) today announced their partnership to mobilize stakeholders and kickstart the Arogya City movement with a Summit on November 28 at St John’s Auditorium. The movement calls upon the city’s government entities, academia, corporates, entrepreneurs, civil society organizations, to pledge their support towards making Bengaluru India’s first Arogya City.

Determined to contribute to ‘India at 75’ and improve the health of Bengaluru, the three organizations aim to secure close to 20 pledges which will be aptly called the Champions20 (C20) Group that will help at least 500,000 Bengalureans tangibly improve their health.

An Advisory Committee chaired by Shri K Jairaj, IAS (Retd.), has been formed as has a Technical Committee, to guide each pledge maker and follow their progress post the summit. In order to ensure that the objectives of the pledges are met and projects completed within 2 years, all pledges will be made public at the Arogya Summit.

Speaking about the importance of the movement and why Bengaluru needs to get healthy, Dr. Nalini Saligram, Founder and CEO, Arogya World, said, ”NCDs (Noncommunicable Diseases) like diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and chronic lung diseases, and mental health, are among the top health & development challenges of the century, especially in metros like Bengaluru. As part of our endeavor to transform Bengaluru into India’s first Arogya City, we are engaging with diverse stakeholders to make bold pledges, implement well-designed programs, and measurably improve the health of the citizens of Bengaluru. We do not expect to see sweeping improvements right away in city-wide health metrics, but are confident our collective impact over time will be significant.”

Sharing his thoughts, the brand ambassador of the Arogya City campaign, Dr. Devi Shetty, cardiac surgeon, and chairman and founder of Narayana Health, said, ”According to the World Health Organization, India accounts for at least one-fifth of the 17.9 million cardiovascular disease-related deaths globally. NCDs are a growing concern in India and steps must be taken to ensure things do not get out of control. The Arogya City effort is a step in the right direction and will help address Bengaluru’s health in a significant way.”

According to a World Economic Forum whitepaper from 2021, 43% of Bengalureans suffer from obesity, while a staggering 65% of the population does not indulge in meaningful physical activity. The report also corroborates the fact that Bengaluru is turning out to be the diabetes capital of the state, if not the country. It states that 22% of people in the city were diabetic. Not only do NCDs have an impact on the health of the city, but they can also have a devastating impact on personal financial security and economic growth. Research points out that it can cause a global cumulative economic output loss, of a staggering $47 trillion by 2030. The movement’s crux is NCDs prevention and control, mental well-being, and leveraging technology for a healthier tomorrow.

For more information, please visit – www.arogyacity.in

About Rotary (District 3190) Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves. Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision. For more than 110 years, Rotary’s people of action have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects. From literacy and peace to water and health, we are always working to better our world, and we stay committed to the end.

About Arogya World Arogya World is a global health non-profit organization working to prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs)—diabetes, heart disease, cancer and chronic lung diseases—through health education and lifestyle change. Through our programs and advocacy efforts, we help people around the world lead healthier lives. Our mission is reflected in our name: ”Arogya” in Sanskrit means to live a life without disease.

About B.PAC Bangalore Political Action Committee (B.PAC) is a non-partisan non profit organization that aims to improve governance in Bengaluru and to enhance the quality of life of every citizen. B.PAC is specifically targeting good governance practices, integrity and transparency in all arms of the government, improving the quality of infrastructure in the city, and identification and support of strong candidates for public office at all levels of governance in Bengaluru city. Learn more at https://bpac.in