In a commendable move, the Meerut Military Station, in coordination with the Department of Surgery at Military Hospital Meerut, organised a walkathon under the banner of the “Amputation-Free India” campaign. The aim: to raise awareness about vascular health, the dangers of vascular occlusive diseases, and how these—in tandem with conditions like diabetes and heart disease—can lead to limb loss if unaddressed.
Nearly 200 service members participated in the event, exemplifying strong engagement from the military community.
The initiative was conceptualised by Brig (Dr) Vikram Patra, the Commandant of Military Hospital Meerut and a vascular surgeon, highlighting the clinical impetus behind the awareness drive.
The event was formally attended by Major General Sumit Rana, General Officer Commanding, West UP Sub Area, serving as the Chief Guest. His attendance underscored the leadership buy-in and the strategic importance of the health theme.
Amputations due to vascular problems often fly under the radar when compared with more visible health threats like heart disease or diabetes. As Brig (Dr) Patra noted: while awareness of diabetes and cardiac conditions is common, vascular occlusive diseases frequently remain undetected.
The walkathon sought to convey three key messages:
Early diagnosis of vascular blockages can prevent progression to critical limb ischaemia and eventual amputation.
Timely treatment (whether surgical, interventional, or lifestyle-based) is essential to preserve limb integrity.
Healthy lifestyle adoption (regular physical activity, control of diabetes/hypertension, smoking cessation) is foundational to vascular health.
Hosting this campaign at a military station offers unique strengths:
The service community typically has strong organisational discipline, camaraderie, and a culture of physical fitness—ideal for promoting a “walkathon” format.
Military families are a captive audience for preventive health messaging, enabling broad internal dissemination of awareness.
The chain of command and leadership presence (e.g., Major General Rana’s role) amplifies the moral and practical weight of the initiative—reinforcing that health readiness is vital for operational readiness.
One of the participants, Naresh Kumar, reflected the personal dimension of the campaign: awareness of vascular health is crucial. He stressed that even after limb loss, individuals can lead fulfilling lives with the right physical and mental support.
For professionals in prosthetics & orthotics (O&P) and allied fields, this event signals some important themes:
Preventive health initiatives such as this contribute to reducing the incidence of amputation, which in turn changes the future demand profile for prosthetic services.
However, for those who do experience limb loss, the raising of awareness helps reduce stigma, increases early referral to rehabilitative services, and can lead to better outcomes (which may translate into demand for advanced O&P solutions).
Engaging with institutional stakeholders (such as military medical services) can present strategic opportunities for supply chain partnerships, training programmes, and joint awareness campaigns.
While this walkathon is a positive step, sustained impact will depend on:
Regular follow-up campaigns and periodic screening drives for vascular disease.
Integration with broader health systems (civil and military) to ensure that persons identified with vascular risk factors are channelled into appropriate diagnostic and treatment pathways.
Collaboration with rehabilitation providers (including O&P clinics) so that whenever limb loss does occur, the pathways for prosthetic care are well understood, accessible and streamlined.
Data collection and outcome tracking: number of screenings done, number of vascular interventions, number of prevented amputations, etc., to gauge campaign efficacy.