The Prime Minister, Tshering Tobgay, and some of the cabinet ministers along with other officials began their move for health walk from Wangduephodrang today. It was flagged off from Bajo town at around 8:30 AM. The walk is to promote healthy lifestyle and to raise funds for the Bhutan Health Trust Fund.
Hundreds of people gathered at the Bajo town to receive the Prime Minister and other cabinet ministers. The event began with the offering of Marchang ceremony by the Wangdue Dzongda. Addressing the gathering the Prime Minister highlighted on the importance of staying healthy, and reminded the people to remain physically active. Lyonchhen also spoke about raising funds for the Bhutan health trust fund.
At around 8.30 AM, the walk began with hundreds accompanying the team to support the cause. The team will walk via Nahi and will spend their night at Helela. The team is expected to arrive in Thimphu by tomorrow afternoon.
At the gathering today, Bhutan Health Trust Fund received a donation amounting to over Nu.3.17 million. The money will be used to procure vaccines. It has also been co-financing the procurement of pentavalent vaccines with Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization since 2009.
Move for health walk was initiated by former health minister Lyonpo Sangay Ngedup in 2002 raising almost 2 million US dollars. They had walked from Trashigang to Thimphu covering a distance of over 500 kilometers.
