The event was flagged off by Shri Madhu Bangarappa, Ex-Hon’ble Minister for Education, Government of Karnataka, and witnessed the participation of nearly 800 people from all walks of life, including healthcare professionals, students, police personnel, social organizations, hospital staff, and members of the general public. The walkathon was conducted around the St. Martha’s Hospital campus with the objective of creating awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco and encouraging individuals to embrace a tobacco-free lifestyle.

The programme was graced by several distinguished dignitaries of St. Martha’s Hospital, including:
• Rev. Fr. Thomas Pariyarath, Director
• Dr. Christi Dominic Savio, Medical Superintendent
• Dr. Arun Kumar, Additional Medical Superintendent
• Sr. Deepa, Sister Superior & Secretary
• Sr. Puspha, Nursing Superintendent
• Sr. Ancy, Principal, St. Martha’s College of Nursing
• Dr. Sivasankari R., Consultant Pulmonologist, Organising Secretary & executive committee member of KPA
• And team of our doctors –

• Dr.Sunil Gowda,Urologist
• Dr.Praveen – General Medicine
• Dr.Sunkappa – Spine Surgeon
• Dr.Sahana – General Surgery
• Dr.Nikhil – General Surgery
• Dr.Shilpashree – OBG
• Dr.Ameera – Pulmonary Medicine
• Mr.Ashwin – RT

Addressing the gathering, the dignitaries highlighted the alarming rise in tobacco consumption and nicotine addiction, particularly among young people. They emphasized that tobacco continues to be one of the greatest public health threats of modern times, contributing to cancers, heart disease, chronic respiratory illnesses, stroke, and numerous other life-threatening conditions.

The guest speakers delivered insightful and impactful talks on the devastating consequences of tobacco use and the importance of prevention and early intervention. Dr. Jayant Mahadevan, Consultant, Centre for Addiction Medicine, NIMHANS, spoke on “Tobacco Addiction – Ways to Counter It,” while Dr. Lohith G. Reddy, Senior Consultant Radiation Oncologist, HCG Cancer Hospital, addressed the topic “Tobacco Use and Lung Cancer.” Dr. B. L. Shashi Bhushan, renowned Pulmonologist & Secretary of KPA, shared his expertise on “Tobacco and Lung Disease,” educating participants on the severe impact of tobacco on respiratory health.

As part of the awareness initiative, Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) and medical consultations were also conducted free of cost, reinforcing the hospital’s commitment to preventive healthcare and community well-being.

The event resonated strongly with the message “Don’t Let Tobacco Take Your Breath Away,” inspiring participants to become advocates for a tobacco-free future. Through awareness, education, and collective action, St. Martha’s Hospital reaffirmed its longstanding mission of serving humanity and promoting healthier communities.

The overwhelming participation and enthusiastic response from the public underscored the urgent need for continued awareness campaigns against tobacco use and demonstrated the community’s shared determination to combat this growing menace.

A Legacy of Leadership in Polio Eradication

For more than four decades, Rotary Interna onal has stood at the forefront of the global campaign to eradicate polio. In 1979, Rotary launched its first immunization project in the Philippines, se ng in mo on a worldwide movement that would change the course of public health.

By 1985, Rotary introduced PolioPlus — the first and largest private-sector ini a ve supporting global immunization — raising an unprecedented $247 million, more than double its original goal.

Three years later, in 1988, Rotary became a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication

Ini a ve (GPEI), joining forces with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preven on (CDC), and later the Bill & Melinda Gates Founda on. At that
me, polio paralyzed more than 350,000 children annually across 125 countries.

Today, thanks to this historic partnership, polio cases have been reduced by 99.9%, and more than 2.5 billion children have been immunized — marking one of the greatest achievements in global health history.

Rotary’s Global Partnerships and Impact

Rotary’s collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and other partners has been pivotal in reaching the world’s most remote communi es, building trust in vaccines, and mobilizing the resources needed to protect every child. Rotary has contributed over $1 billion to UNICEF alone, supporting the distribution on more than 1 billion doses of oral polio vaccine each year — according for over half of the global supply.
In recent years, Rotary’s impact has been further strengthened through its partnership with the Bill

& Melinda Gates Founda on, which has provided matching grants that have mul plied Rotary’s contribuns. A landmark $450 million joint commitment announced in 2017 continues to fund vital immunization on drives, disease surveillance, and community engagement across polio-endemic countries such as Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as in outbreak-prone regions of Africa.

A Call to Ac on

The Bengaluru Walkathon invites Rotarians, Rotaractors, students, and ci zens to join hands in raising awareness and reaffirming Rotary’s unwavering commitment to end polio forever. As District Governor, I affirm, “This is not just a celebration of success, but a reminder that our mission con nues un l every child, everywhere, is safe.”

Let this occasion stand as a testament to what collabora on, compassion, and collec ve commitment can achieve. Let us walk with purpose, celebrate our progress, and inspire the next genera on to uphold the spirit of service and the promise of a healthier, polio-free world.

ಮಹಿಳಾ ಉದ್ಯಮಿಗಳನ್ನು ಉತ್ತೇಜಿಸಲು ಮತ್ತು ಬೆಂಬಲಿಸಲು ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಕ್ರಮಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ವಾಕಥಾನ್ ಅನ್ನು ಎತ್ತಲಾಯಿತು, ವಿವಿಧ ಕೈಗಾರಿಕೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಅವರ ಮಹತ್ವದ ಕೊಡುಗೆಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಲಿಂಗ ಸಮಾನತೆಗೆ ಜಾಗೃತಿ ಮೂಡಿಸಲು, ಮಹಿಳೆಯರನ್ನು ನಾಯಕತ್ವದಲ್ಲಿ ಉತ್ತೇಜಿಸಲು ಮತ್ತು ಪ್ರೇರೇಪಿಸಲು ಮತ್ತು ಅನೇಕ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರನ್ನು ಸಬಲೀಕರಣಗೊಳಿಸಲು.
ಈವೆಂಟ್, ಬೃಹತ್ ಜನರು ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಿದ್ದರು ಮತ್ತು ನಾಯಕತ್ವದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರನ್ನು ಪ್ರೇರೇಪಿಸಲು ಮುಂದಾದರು. ಸದಾನಂದ ಎ.ತಿಪ್ಪನವರ್ ಸಹಾಯಕ ಪೊಲೀಸ್ ಆಯುಕ್ತರು ಸಬಲೀಕರಣ ಜಾಥಾಕ್ಕೆ ಚಾಲನೆ ನೀಡಿದರು ಮತ್ತು ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಿದವರಿಗೆ ಚಾಲನೆಯಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಬಿಬ್‌ಗಳನ್ನು ಹಸ್ತಾಂತರಿಸಿದರು.

ಮೆರವಣಿಗೆಯು ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ರಾಜಾಜಿನಗರದ ಲುಲು ಮಾಲ್‌ನಿಂದ 3 ಕಿಲೋಮೀಟರ್ ವಾಕಥಾನ್ ಅನ್ನು ಒಳಗೊಂಡಿದೆ ಮತ್ತು ಇಡೀ ಕುಟುಂಬವನ್ನು ಇಡೀ ಬೆಳಿಗ್ಗೆ ತೊಡಗಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಜುಂಬಾ, ನೃತ್ಯ, ಫಿಟ್‌ನೆಸ್ ತರಬೇತಿ ಮತ್ತು ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಚಟುವಟಿಕೆಗಳಂತಹ ಇತರ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮಗಳನ್ನು ವಾಕಥಾನ್ ಒಳಗೊಂಡಿದೆ. ಈ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಫಿಟ್ನೆಸ್ ಕ್ವೀನ್ ವನಿತಾ ಅಶೋಕ್, ದೇಹದಾರ್ಢ್ಯ ಪಟು ಮಮತಾ ಮತ್ತು ಇತರ ಗಣ್ಯರು ಉಪಸ್ಥಿತರಿದ್ದರು.

“ಈ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮದ ಭಾಗವಾಗಲು ತುಂಬಾ ಹೆಮ್ಮೆಯಾಗುತ್ತದೆ ಮತ್ತು ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಿದವರಿಗೆ ಮತ್ತು ಮುಖ್ಯವಾಗಿ, ಇಂತಹ ಅರ್ಥಪೂರ್ಣ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮವನ್ನು ಆಯೋಜಿಸಿದ್ದಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಲುಲು ಸದಸ್ಯರಿಗೆ ನಮ್ಮ ಹೃತ್ಪೂರ್ವಕ ಕೃತಜ್ಞತೆಯನ್ನು ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಲು ಬಯಸುತ್ತೇವೆ” ಎಂದು ಎಸಿಪಿ ಸದಾನಂದ ಎ ತಿಪ್ಪನವರ್ ಈ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಹೇಳಿದರು.
ಅಂತರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಮಹಿಳಾ ದಿನಾಚರಣೆಯ ಜೊತೆಗೆ, ಲುಲು ಫಂಟುರಾದಲ್ಲಿ ಕ್ವೀನ್ಪಿನ್ ಎಂಬ ಹೆಸರಿನ ಮಹಿಳಾ ಬೌಲಿಂಗ್ ಪಂದ್ಯಾವಳಿಯನ್ನು ನಡೆಸಲಾಯಿತು, ಇದು ಭಾರಿ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸುವವರಿಂದ ಅಲಂಕರಿಸಲ್ಪಟ್ಟಿದೆ.