BRICS delegates attending the sixteenth BRICS Health Ministers’ meeting in Chandigarh took part in a walkathon at the Sukhna Lake on Thursday morning. The event was designed to promote healthy living and physical fitness among participants.
Walkathon Highlights ‘Stop Obesity’ Message
Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava, who also participated in the walkathon, explained the purpose behind the event. According to Odisha TV, she said, “One of the agenda items for this BRICS meeting is the ‘BRICS Mission for a Healthy Lifestyle’.”
Srivastava noted that a Yoga session was held on Wednesday morning, and on Thursday, the delegates came to Sukhna Lake for a walk. “The objective of this walkathon is to promote healthy living, focusing on both fitness and proper diet, so that we can spread the message of ‘Stop Obesity’ to everyone,” she added.
Delegates Show Enthusiasm Beyond Planned Route
The delegates participated with great enthusiasm. Srivastava mentioned that they walked even further than the planned route, showing their commitment to the cause. The walkathon is part of broader efforts within the BRICS meeting to address health challenges through lifestyle changes.
“The objective of this walkathon is to promote healthy living, focusing on both fitness and proper diet, so that we can spread the message of ‘Stop Obesity’ to everyone.” — Punya Salila Srivastava, Union Health Secretary, as reported by Odisha TV
Our Take: Small Steps for Big Health Goals
This walkathon may seem like a simple event, but it carries an important message. In our view, having top health officials from BRICS nations walk together sends a strong signal that fighting obesity and promoting healthy lifestyles is a shared priority. The enthusiasm of delegates walking beyond the planned route shows genuine commitment. While walkathons alone won’t solve obesity, they can inspire broader public health campaigns. The combination of yoga and walking — both low-cost, accessible activities — is a practical approach that countries can promote widely. We hope this leads to concrete policy actions beyond the meeting.