Gurugram: With an aim to make holistic good health for all Indians a common goal, India’s longest-running and most credible social initiative for health is back for year 9 This campaign has been acknowledged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for its impact on public awareness on health and hygiene. Debuting as Banega Swacch India 8 years ago, for promoting hygiene and cleanliness, the campaign transformed into Banega Swasth India, taking forward Gandhiji’s assertion that cleanliness and health are intertwined. Every year highlights themes on good hygiene practices, clean environment and health, how a healthy India is a prosperous India and how no Indian must be left behind in the quest for good health.
Season 9’s theme Lakshya Sampoorn Swasthya Ka, focuses on holistic good health for every Indian regardless of their backgrounds. To build a future where every Indian has access to good health care and to improve average life expectancy to 80 years of age through innovation, technology, access to medical care and focused self care.
Also Read: Moving Towards A Healthier India: Biggest Game Changers In Health In 75 Years
The 12-hour telethon attended by Ministers representing different states, experts from the WHO, innovators, doctors, artists and health care workers who function on the frontlines helping the most vulnerable people, focused on how we can achieve the goal of holistic health for all, setting the tone for the new year of the Campaign.
These conversations were interspersed with live performances by esteemed artists such as Mohit Chauhan, Kailash Kher, Palak Mucchal, Mika Singh, Vishal Mishra, Aastha Gill, Dharmesh Yelonde and Ganesh Acharya.
Also Read: About NDTV-Dettol Banega Swasth India Season 9 – Lakshya-Sampoorn Swasthya Ka
The event highlighted the need to prevent ill-health, and not just cure it. It stressed on the importance of good hygiene, analysed the impact of Climate change on health and examined how to better discuss the importance of adolescent sexual and reproductive health. Women’s health was also a focus, while introducing the audiences to the next big innovations in health tech.
This annual event and campaign has won multiple awards for being a force for bringing about social change and awareness.
Amitabh Bachchan, Campaign Ambassador, says,
A Swasth Bharat needs to be our lakshya…it’s the key to a prosperous future. Programs like Banega Swasth India work towards raising awareness about good health and hygiene, and this year, the spotlight is on the game-changers of health in the last 75 years. Health tech has advanced so much over the last few years – the fact that we’ve been able to make indigenous and affordable vaccines speaks volumes of the potential India has. Health care needs to be inclusive and accessible to every individual.
Kris Licht, President Health & Global Chief Officer, Reckitt said,
Creating positive social impact which goes beyond our products and business is the natural extension of our purpose- to protect, heal and nurture in the relentless pursuit of a cleaner and healthier world. We are certain that we will create a lasting impact in communities and, together with our partners, will contribute to delivering the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Also Read: Understanding The Need To Fight Germs And Building A Swasth India
Gaurav Jain, Senior Vice President, Reckitt – South Asia said,
The access to good health and hygiene should be a right of every individual. Our Goal is Good Health for All. This means that every Indian is able to live a healthy life. If we as individuals and communities focus on better physical and mental well-being, we will no doubt be able to achieve our ‘Lakshya – Sampoorn Swasthya Ka’.
Ravi Bhatnagar, Director- External Affairs and Partnerships, Reckitt- South Asia said,
The Dettol Banega Swasth India platform not only gives us a chance to make a difference, but we also get to celebrate success stories that have truly been inspiring to audience across the globe. We believe in working on SDG 17 (Partnerships) and making sure we ‘Leave No One Behind’ through right Public, Private and Patient Mix to make every Indian live a healthy ‘Sahasra Poorna Chandrodayam’ (Living 1000 full moons).
Dr Prannoy Roy, Executive Co-chairperson, NDTV said,
Banega Swasth India is our landmark event, and it has grown in its scope, objectives and impact over the last 8 years. The focus began with cleanliness and naturally evolved into hygiene, nutrition, and human health. Inculcating good hygiene practices is important, but equally important is taking care of the health of the medical ecosystem as well. The need now is to focus more on preventive measures and health care in rural areas, for example the wonderful work and contribution of India’s Asha Workers which needs widespread acknowledgment. Health is the key to improving economic growth, raising incomes, and reducing poverty in our nation.
Reckitt* exists to protect, heal and nurture in the relentless pursuit of a cleaner, healthier world. We believe that access to the highest-quality hygiene, wellness and nourishment is a right, not a privilege.
Reckitt is the company behind some of the world’s most recognisable and trusted consumer brands in hygiene, health and nutrition, including Air Wick, Calgon, Cillit Bang, Clearasil, Dettol, Durex, Enfamil, Finish, Gaviscon, Harpic, Lysol, Mortein, Mucinex, Nurofen, Nutramigen, Strepsils, Vanish, Veet, Woolite and more. Every day, more than 20 million Reckitt products are bought globally.
Also Read: Climate Change And Health: Five Reasons For Immediate Climate Action
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
