‘Arogyam, Anandam – Vibe for Wellness’ campaign at the Azhankal Walkway, Karamana, which was inaugurated on Saturday.
Drawing attention to the rise in lifestyle diseases among Kerala’s youth, the organisers of a health campaign held here on Saturday called for community-led interventions modelled after international success stories to tackle the situation.
Inaugurating the ‘Arogyam, Anandam – Vibe for Wellness’ campaign at the Azhankal Walkway, Karamana, U. Nandakumar, chairman of CAPSULE Kerala and former professor of Physical Education and Rehabilitation, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, noted that heart attacks and cancer were increasingly prevalent in the 20-40 age group.
The Finland connection
Dr. Nandakumar said the current campaign model had been adapted from successful public health initiatives in Finland, a country that faced similar health challenges and successfully reduced cardiovascular mortality through community-based dietary and lifestyle changes.
“The goal is to move this beyond a local initiative. Given the positive response in Thiruvananthapuram, we plan to expand this campaign across Kerala,” Dr. Nandakumar said.
He added that the next phase of the programme was scheduled to be organised next month.
In the interactive session, Dr. Nandakumar addressed concerns ranging from popular diet patterns to women-centric health issues, clarifying doubts regarding nutritional intake and sedentary behaviour.
Youth engagement
The event, organised jointly by the Azhankal Walkway Protection Group, Kerala Sastra Sahithya Parishad (Kalady unit), and CAPSULE Kerala, also saw participation from trained students. These volunteers assisted participants in calculating the calorific value of their daily meals and understanding the importance of protein-rich diets.
The Azhankal Walkway Protection Group said that free blood sugar and blood pressure screenings would continue to be available at the walkway every Saturday. They underscored the importance of pairing physical exercise with high-quality, regulated food intake to combat the State’s shifting disease profile.
Published – January 24, 2026 11:37 pm IST
