Glenmark launches the next phase of ‘India First Heart First’ campaign

New Delhi: Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has announced the rollout of the next phase of its ‘India First Heart First’ campaign. This nationwide initiative aims to tackle the prevalent challenges related to heart health across India, demonstrating Glenmark’s commitment to addressing cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

The campaign, which commenced with an event on World Heart Day, September 29, 2023, witnessed renowned artist Sudarsan Pattnaik creating a captivating sand sculpture of a human heart at Puri Beach. Garnering attention from over 5 million viewers, the sculpture made a substantial impact in raising awareness about heart health.

Expanding on this momentum, the campaign reached another milestone on World Hypertension Day 2024. Glenmark collaborated with President’s Award winner, gemstone carver artist Prithviraj Kumawat, to craft a monumental human heart from a single stone of Rose quartz, associated with the heart chakra promoting emotional balance. The 8-foot-tall, 3.5-ton sculpture was unveiled on May 17, 2024, in the presence of distinguished cardiologists from Delhi and Jaipur. 35,000 doctors from across India pledged their support for cardiovascular disease awareness with their signed pledge cards displayed at the base of the sculpture, symbolizing the collective commitment.

Alok Malik, President and Business Head – India Formulations, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd., expressed, “Through the ‘India First Heart First’ campaign, we are not just raising awareness; we are building a movement. Recognizing the urgent need for greater awareness and proactive health measures, Glenmark is at the forefront of championing heart health. We believe this innovative approach will bring together art, science, and community outreach to create a lasting impact for raising heart health awareness across the country.”

The event featured insightful talks by cardiologists Dr. J S Hiremath, Dr. A Sreenivas Kumar, Dr. JPS Sawhney, and Dr. Dilip Kumar, emphasizing the importance of heart health.

According to recent studies, CVDs account for a staggering 17.7 million deaths in India annually, making them the leading cause of non-communicable disease-related deaths. India also holds the dubious distinction of contributing one-fifth of CVD deaths globally, particularly among the younger population. The Global Burden of Disease study reveals an age-standardized CVD death rate of 272 per 100,000 population in India, significantly higher than the global average of 235.