23.78L screened | Focus of scheme on 18-30 age group8.35 L diagnosed with NCDs
Tribune News Service
Shimla, October 28
The burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like hypertension, diabetes and associated risk factors are on the rise in the state. Out of the total 23.78 lakh individuals screened so far for NCDs, 8.35 lakh have been diagnosed with one or other disease. “Around 50,000 persons of these have started taking treatment,” said a government spokesperson.
He said that a special surveillance activity was underway and clinical services were being provided to address the challenge. “The key mandate of the scheme is risk reduction, health promotion, screening and management of NCDs. The focus is more on the 18 to 30 years age group, which is more vulnerable to common risk factors such as tobacco, alcohol, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity,” he added.
The spokesperson said that the Central Government had also launched a similar NCD screening programme under which above 30 years population is screened for diabetes, hypertension and three common cancers. “However, in Himachal, under the integrated surveillance of 10 common NCDs, including cancers, diabetes, hypertension, deafness, blindness, COPD, epilepsy, other CVDs, mental illness and 15 risk factors, screening for the 18 to 30 years age group is being done,” he added.
He said that the screened persons, who are found to have risk factors or NCDs, were referred to the medical officer for further treatment and management. “The entire surveillance is ensured through the e-Health card software in ANMOL tablets /mobile phones at the ANM level,” he added.
He said that till now 23.78 lakh persons had been screened and their risk profile had been captured in the software.
