It is that time again when all of us are preparing to bid goodbye to a year gone by and heralding the new year. For some, the year would have entailed good tidings throughout. For others, there may have been ups and downs. However, the arrival of a new year also signals new hope and opportunities. Let us hope that the year to come will bring changes for the better and a bright future for everyone.
As we focus on several other aspects and make resolutions for the new year, we must also make a resolve towards harm reduction and ensuring better health for us and our near and dear ones. While we seek better health care from the government as a fundamental right, it is also our duty to contribute to this effort by being a responsible citizen.
Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee, Dr KK Aggarwal, President, HCFI, said, “At the outset, I wish all the readers a very happy and prosperous new year 2019. Healthcare is a birth right of every citizen of India, as enshrined in Article 21 ‘Right to life’ of the Constitution of India and providing quality health care services to its citizens is the primary responsibility of governments. However, as individuals, we too have a responsibility toward our own health. Good health is not only an outcome of eating healthy or regular check-ups or even taking the right medications or vaccinations at the right time. It is a byproduct of our environment and the conditions we live in. The conditions in which we live, learn, work and age are called the social determinants of health or ‘the causes of the causes’, which also form important aspects of health. As individuals, we are not isolated units, but are a part of the society we live in. And, because we live in a community, we are also responsible for the health and well-being of others living in that community.”
The health of people, plants, animals and environment are interdependent. This is the concept of “One Health”. Our Vedas teach us that “the whole world is one family” or “Vasudhaiva kutumbakam”.
Adding further, Dr Aggarwal, who is also the Group Editor-in-Chief of IJCP, said, “Harm reduction entails everything from omitting the avoidable risk factors that put our health at risk and keeping our neighbourhood clean to working towards improving the environment that may affect the health of others. For instance, most of the existing pollution levels are man-made, so we must make individual efforts to control the same. We must respect laws of the state in place and abide by them. Every little step taken at the individual level will only work towards the goodwill of the society as a whole.”
Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of our Nation said, “You must be the change that you wish to see in the world.” Here is a resolution we all can make:

“I have a fundamental right to health sans discrimination and taking into consideration all my social determinants of health and respecting my decision to opt for harm prevention or harm reduction. I recognize that I too have a duty to keep pollution levels under control, both indoor and outdoor. I will work towards the health of the environment, plants and animals and consequently my health.”
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2019!