Strong lower limbs are required to achieve high standards of physical fitness, and walking is the best option to achieve it, said Minister for Transport and B.C. Welfare Ponnam Prabhakar.

The Minister, accompanied by Special Chief Secretary (Information Technology) Jayesh Ranjan, inaugurated the first-ever Orthopaedic Walkathon in the city at Jalavihar on Sunday.

Flagging off the walkathon in three, five and seven kilometres categories, the Minister lauded the efforts of Mumbai-based Moonot Healthcare Foundation (MHF) for convening the event to enlighten people about bones, joints, foot and ankle related issues.

“These days, it is said that people are suffering injuries due to weak bones and joints. It is high time we all set goals to strengthen our bones by undertaking short, long walks daily,” Mr. Prabhakar said while addressing over 1,000 participants of different age groups.

He assured that the government would support initiatives like these in creating awareness among public about the importance of improving the strength of bones and joints.

The event was convened by MHF in association with Samskriti Business Solutions (Hyderabad-based digital marketing and web designing company).

Mr. Jayesh Ranjan said that he learnt the importance of foot and ankle to lead a healthy and happy life in old age during his recent conversation with MHF founder Shilpa Moonot. It would be better if every citizen understands the importance of taking precautions about bones and joints so that they do not suffer in old age.

Ms. Shilpa and her husband Pradeep Moonot, an orthopaedic surgeon who served for over a decade in London, are organising orthopaedic walkathons in different parts of the country. MHF conducted orthopaedic walkathons earlier in Pune and Jodhpur.

Mr. Pradeep said that MHF would be happy to convene free camps in different parts of Telangana to treat the poorest of the poor for foot and ankle related problems with the support of the government.

(eom)