After serving the Indian Dietetic Association (IDA) Nagpur Chapter as president for the last many years, Dr. Rita Bhargava is set to handover the baton to the new generation. IDA Nagpur is one of the most active chapters of the association. It has organised various programmes viz seminars, expos, rallies, etc. to create awareness among people on good dietary habits. She has extended warm greetings and good wishes to the new team and exuded confidence that IDA would continue to sensitise people about the benefits of good dietary habits.
The chapter has been organising ‘Dietetics Day’ for the last three years on January 10 with a different theme every year. Last year the theme was ‘Ensure Safe and Nutritious food’. Dr Asmita Thaokar enlightened the members on the topic. This year the theme is ‘Anaemia Mukta Bharat’.
Indian Dietetic Association (IDA) is a national body of dietitians from across the country. It has 23 chapters in various states of the country. IDA Nagpur Chapter was pioneered by Prof. AN Radha and Prof. Kamala Gopalan as president and secretary respectively in 1981 and has hosted two national conventions so far, the first in 1991 and another in 2007. The life membership strength of the body is around 600. At the national level,Dr. Rita Bhargava hasbeen a part of IDA subcommitteesfor media and communication which havebrought out three newsletters and a position paper on fiber.
The various activities organised by Nagpur chapter of IDA during the last tenure included - Clinical Nutrition Education Series (CNE’S) on various topics like MNT – Kidney Diseases (speakers Dr. Ookhalkar and Dr.Rita Bhargava), Dietary Management in Liver Disorders (speaker Dr. V. Banait), Critical Care MNT (speaker Dr. K. Bhutada and Dr. Rita Bhargava), Therapeutic Role Of Fiber (speakers Dr. Renuka Mainde, Dr.Rita Bhargava, Kavita Bakshi, Minal Gujarathi, Kavita Gupta), Importance of Breakfast (speakers Dr.Sabiha Vali and Madhavi Trivedi), Pediatric Nutrition-CKD & Celiac (speakers Dr. Achanta & Dr.Y.Waikar), Nutrigenomic workshop (speakers Dr. Amol Raut and Dr. Geeta Dharmatti), Wellness, Critical Care, IDA & RD (speakers Sheela Krishnaswamy and Salomi Benjamin), Gut Microbiota and Protein Insight (speakers Dr. Jagmeet Madan & Dr. Bhavna Chauhan) and PediaObecon (speaker Shilpa Mittal)
‘Dietetics Day’ is being celebrated on 10th January every year with a theme since the past three years.’Nutrition Week’ was celebrated at balwadis, orphanages, anganwadis, with Asha workers, at hospitals (Care & Matru seva sangh), WTERI College (quiz, poster and recipe competition were held), Lonara village (training imparted to volunteers) and schools (Saraswati high school, BVM, Dinanath high school, Madan Gopal school).
Diet expos were also held at Care Hospital, Dinanath School, JDPA Camp, Suresh Bhatt Auditorium with FOGSI and Mahindra and Mahindra.
Public awareness rallies were also taken out with Peace Foundation & Care. World Heart day rally was taken out in 2016 and 2017 while World Diabetes Day rally was taken out this year 2018.
IDA Nagpur has also done a lot of community service to promote health awareness and wellness. “We would like to appreciate the support from various organisations i.e. Care Hospital, Women’s Technical Education and Research Institute, Peace Foundation for collaborating for activites,” Dr. Bhargava said.
“With blessings and guidance from our senior advisory committee members – Prof. AN Radha, Dr. Sabiha Vali, Dr. Deepali Kotwal, Dr. Rekha Sharma, Jayshree Pendharkar, Sheela Mahapatra, and full support from my office bearers- secretary Kavita Bakshi, co-convenor Tanushree Bhattacharya, treasurer- Minal Gujarathi, joint secretary Kavita Gupta, LEC-Nilima Joshi, Chanchal Sahani, Vinita Mehta, Aditi Barve, Sakina Raghib, I am able to complete my tenure successfully as President Nagpur Chapter,” she added.
“My heartfelt gratitude for my well-wishers and all my IDA family at national- NEC and Nagpur – LEC and my better half Rajiv, son Arnav, my in-laws and parents without whose whole hearted support this wouldn’t have been possible. Last but not the least I thank the almighty for giving me the opportunity to serve,” she said.
Dr. Bhargava also extended good wishes to the new team which included – convener -Kavita Bakshi, co-convenor- Minal Gujarathi, secretary-Kavita Gupta, joint secretary  – Chanchal Sahani, treasurer-Dr.Renuka Maindeand executive members- Vinita Mehta, Suvarna Nitnaware, Prachi Sawaikar, Jaya Adwani, Sakina Raghib.
