New Delhi: Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said Wednesday that people with poor immunity are more vulnerable to contracting coronavirus. Harsh Vardhan stressed on the need to boost the immune system by eating right and safe food. The health minister was speaking at the virtual launch of the ‘Eat Right India Challenge’. It is an initiative launched by food safety regulator FSSAI. The minister said a strong immune system is not only important for fighting coronavirus but also diseases like tuberculosis.
“It is rightly said that food plays an important role in building immunity. Today those people are getting more infected by COVID-19 whose immunity is not strong,” Vardhan said.
“People who don’t focus on their food have many deficiencies. It weakens their immune system. So it is important to eat right and safe food. As a doctor, I feel if a person focuses on his food and exercise, he can save himself from diseases,” Vardhan added.
The minister asserted that more awareness needs to be created among people about diet. He pointed out about 52 per cent deaths in India are due to non-communicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes.
“Even communicable diseases like tuberculosis disproportionately affect people who are undernourished. People of the same household have been showing different responses to COVID-19. It is based on their immunity acquired through nutrition,” Vardhan stated.
On the ‘Eat Right India Challenge’, the Minister said it is a good initiative. “But in the name of this initiative, small outlets should not be harassed. Efforts should be made to involve them and encourage them to participate,” he said.
Under the year-long initiative, the first 150 cities and districts that register on a first-cum-first service basis will be eligible for seed funding for the challenge. Already 197 districts/cities from 23 states have registered.