Government to launch prevention, screening and control programme for 5 non-communicable diseases
The Union Health Ministry will soon launch population based prevention, screening and control programme for five common non-communicable diseases (NCDs) on the occasion of World Cancer Day (4th February).
They are Hypertension, Diabetes, and Cancers of oral cavity, breast and cervix. This programme will be launched as part of the National Health Mission.
Key Facts
- Under this programme screening will be rolled out in 100 districts in 32 states and Union Territories before March 31, 2017 in the first phase.
- ASHA and ANM workers will be trained for this purpose. They will also be capture information on major risk factors so that persons at risk could be counselled on leading healthy lifestyles to prevent onset of NCDs.
- In subsequent phases, Chronic Obstructive Respiratory diseases will be also included and the programme will be scaled up to cover other districts.
Need for such Programme
Non-Communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks and stroke, Diabetes, Chronic Respiratory Diseases (Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases) and Cancer account for over 60% of all mortality in India, of these, nearly 55% are premature mortality. Since these conditions do not exhibit symptoms until complications set in, it is essential to detect them early which enables treatment and prevents high financial costs and suffering. Besides, NCDs imposes a financial and social cost on families and the country. According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), India stands to lose $ 4.58 trillion (Rs 311.94 trillion) due to non-communicable diseases between 2012 and 2030
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Month: Current Affairs - January, 2017