The walkathon was flagged off from the hospital premises by Agnimitra Paul, West Bengal's Minister of State for Municipal Affairs and Urban Development, with around 200 participants walking from Desun Hospital to Acropolis Mall.
"When 200 people are participating in this Healthy Heart Walkathon, from Desun Hospital to Acropolis Mall, you are not just fighting for your fitness but setting an example for the entire city of Kolkata," Paul said, thanking the hospital's doctors and medical staff for organising the event.
Shaoli Dutta, CEO of Desun Hospitals, said the initiative was intended to carry preventive heart care beyond the hospital's walls. "Heart health is not only about medical care but also about the everyday choices we make.
"Through the Desun Cardio Care Walkathon, we aimed to encourage people to adopt regular physical activity, mindful eating and healthier lifestyle habits," Dutta said.
Dr Sanjib Kumar Patra, Director of Cardiology at Desun Hospitals, said heart disease can often be prevented or its risks reduced through timely awareness, regular exercise, a balanced diet and routine health check-ups.
"The Desun Cardio Care Walkathon was an effort to take this message beyond the hospital and encourage people to make cardiovascular health a priority in their daily lives," he said.
The event was also attended by Dr Avik Karak and Dr Biaus Samanta, both consultants of interventional cardiology at the hospital, along with other doctors, senior hospital functionaries, nursing staff and school students.
The walkathon concluded with a call for participants to stay physically active, make mindful dietary choices and pay closer attention to their cardiovascular health.