Darpan News Service
Chandigarh, 02 September: The Department of Dietetics, PGIMER, Chandigarh celebrated National Nutrition Month on 2nd September, 2023 under the banner of NSI and IAPEN India Chandigarh Chapter by conducting a seminar on ‘Nutrition and Brain Health’. Dr. Nancy Sahni, Chief Dietician, Department of Dietetics, PGIMER as well as Chandigarh Chapter convenor, NSI and Chandigarh chapter Secretary, IAPEN India was the organizing chairperson for the same.
We chose the theme of today’s scientific session as ‘Nutrition and Brain Health’ since Gut and Brain are very closely connected. The Gut brain axis has a pivotal role in keeping the overall mental and physical wellbeing. The seminar witnessed talks, deliberations on various brain disorders, how nutrition is related to brain health, in - patient PGI case study on cerebral palsy and dystonia management nutritionally and discussions on how nutrition plays a preventive as well as therapeutic role in degenerative brain disorders , and that nutrition should never be underplayed. This year’s National Nutrition month theme is ‘Suposhit Bharat, Sakshar Bharat, Sashakt Bharat’. It means to conceptualize, develop, pilot and scale up food based nutrition intervention which therapeutically addresses malnutrition. It also means to create nutrition awareness among classes and masses. Department of Dietetics, PGI will be continuing the celebrations by visiting ‘angan wadis’ as well as old age homes in upcoming weeks of this month and spreading awareness about how to have access to a healthy diet in limited resources.
Honourable Director Prof. Vivek Lal, PGIMER, Chandigarh presided as Chief Guest. Prof. Vipin Kaushal Medical Superintendent, Prof. & Head, Hospital Administration PGI, Chandigarh was the Guest of Honour . Professor Pankaj Malhotra, Head, Hemato-oncology unit presided as IAPEN Chandigarh chapter president.
Target population was dieticians, doctors and postgraduate dietetics students, faculty and residents. Nearly 250 participants attended the seminar.