Abu Dhabi - UAE: 5th March, 2015: In lieu of its foregoing initiatives for the quit smoking "Step Up Campaign" - Lifecare Hospital conducted an awareness walk on the ill effects of smoking where over 500 residents from various labor camps participated in this walk. 

Lifecare Hospital provided t-shirts, flags, banners for the participants to carry during the march. Whilst all the participants who registered for the "STEP UP" campaign to quit smoking made a promise to their Nation, a Promise to their families and above all, a Promise to themselves to never light up a cigarette in their lives again in efforts to live a better life in better health.

The Promise taken was: "I promise in the name of my family that I will quit smoking for their sake. I will remember their faces every time I have the urge to smoke. I will remember that without me, my family are left alone and defenseless. I also Promise on my Mother Land and my adopted country UAE that I will not only quit smoking myself, but, I will also urge people I know to join me in quitting to achieve a smoke-free nation. Lastly, I promise for my own sake to never smoke again!"

About 150 people stood in 6 columns in front of the flags of UAE, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal and took the pledge.

Lifecare Hospital, Baniyas - a unit of VPS Healthcare - as part of its CSR programme has initiated 'STEP UP Campaign' for a healthier lifestyle at numerous labor camps for the workers. The three month campaign was designed to create awareness about the ill-effects of smoking and to get the maximum number of people to quit smoking - a small step towards a bigger goal.

"Smoking results in respiratory diseases, cancers and cardiovascular diseases and hence we took measures to encourage the workers to quit the habit by reminding them of the commitments they have to their families and nation. Twenty minutes after quitting smoking, the heart rate returns to normal. After two hours without a cigarette, the blood pressure and temperature decreases to normal levels. And a year after the risk of heart disease will be lowered by 50 percent. It is because of these health benefits that we are reaching out to the community to help them kick this bad habit," said Dr. Arun Menon, the Director of Operations at the Lifecare Hospital, Baniyas.

About Lifecare Hospital Baniyas: 
Lifecare Hospital Baniyas -- a unit of VPS Healthcare -- is a state-of-the-art facility located in Baniyas.

The Hospital has been designed as a world class medical institution offering quality and affordable medical care using the latest equipment in diagnostics and treatment facilities. The hospital team comprises of multiple specialties and medical personnel offering 24X7 surgical and emergency treatment facilities. 

About VPS Healthcare:
VPS Healthcare is an integrated healthcare service provider with a network of hospitals and chain of Medical Centres. For more information please contact:

Tooba Zafar
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Blue Apple Mediacom FZ LLC 
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Dubai, UAE 
Mob: +97155 6796346
Tel: +9714 4390161 
Fax: +9714 4390160 
website: www.blueappleco.com 
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Press Release 2015