The NCC cadets, who belong to the age group of 14-25, will be sensitised about ill-effects of heart diseases and ways to prevent them from earlier age under an initiative by Apollo Hospitals in cooperation with National Cadet Corps.
All 14 lakh NCC members will eventually be brought under this initiative which will impart lessons on how one can lead a healthy heart life and some basic first aid techniques.
The initiative, part of the Apollo Hospital's 'Billion Hearts Beating' programme, will be launched here tomorrow on the 'World Heart Day'.
About 2,000 students will take a pledge that they will remain active, eat healthy food, quit smoking or say no to smoking, beat stress and going for regular health check-ups.
"We want to sensitise the young minds. Once we are able to convince the youth, we can achieve a heart disease-free India," Apollo Hospitals Chairman Prathap C Reddy said.
The NCC members will be asked to create awareness first inside their houses and in the neighbourhood.
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"Parents do listen to children. So when a child comes to know about the ill-effects of smoking and drinking, the child tells his or her parents," he said.
Reddy, a cardiologist himself, said several thousand students would take a pledge and dedicate themselves in creating awareness on heart diseases across the country.
He also said youth are most prone to heart diseases in the country and attributed changing lifestyle as the major cause.