Healthy Traders and Workers Are Essential for a Prosperous Surat, Says SGCCI President Ashok Jirawala
The Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) organised a special seminar on kidney diseases, kidney stones, prostate-related problems and preventive healthcare to promote health awareness among industrialists, traders and citizens.
Organised by the Chamber’s Public Health Committee on October 11 at the Samruddhi Bhavan in Nanpura, Surat, the seminar featured renowned consultant urologist and renal transplant surgeon Dr Jignesh Ghevariya, who shared insights into kidney health, disease prevention and advanced treatment options.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Ghevariya emphasised that high blood pressure, diabetes and elevated cholesterol are among the major risk factors for kidney disease. He urged people not to wait for symptoms to appear before seeking medical advice, highlighting the importance of regular preventive health check-ups.
He clarified that foamy urine does not necessarily indicate kidney failure or serious kidney disease and advised people against unnecessary anxiety. He also pointed out that a lack of dietary diversity, particularly reduced consumption of vegetables and traditional foods, can lead to deficiencies in essential micronutrients.
Dr Ghevariya explained that many people may be born with only one kidney without even knowing it, and that a person can lead a normal, long life with a single kidney by taking appropriate precautions. He also discussed advances in kidney transplantation, prostate treatments and management of overactive bladder, a condition that causes frequent urination.
“Early detection, before symptoms develop, can prove less expensive than treating an advanced illness,” he emphasised, encouraging people to undergo regular health screenings.
In his message, SGCCI President Ashok Jirawala said that industrialists and traders often neglect their health amid the pressures of running businesses.
He stressed that businesses and industries can succeed only when the entrepreneurs and workers behind them remain healthy. “Healthy traders and healthy workers can build a prosperous Surat and a stronger economy,” he said, adding that healthcare awareness initiatives by the Chamber’s Public Health Committee were commendable.
Welcoming the participants, Dr Jagdish Vaghasiya, Chairman of the Public Health Committee, cautioned against the indiscriminate use of medicines, including painkillers and antibiotics, without consulting a doctor. He noted that inappropriate medication can harm internal organs.
Comparing preventive healthcare to the regular servicing of vehicles, he recommended that people aged 40–50 and above consider annual comprehensive health check-ups, based on medical advice and individual risk factors. He also led participants in taking nine resolutions aimed at adopting a healthier lifestyle.
Dr Shalini Halvawala, Co-Chairperson of the Public Health Committee, introduced the keynote speaker. The seminar concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session in which participants discussed kidney stones, urinary tract infections and the side effects of medicines with Dr Ghevariya.
The programme was conducted, and the vote of thanks was delivered, by Laljibhai Hirani, Co-Chairman of the Public Health Committee. Chamber members and a large number of citizens attended the seminar.
