Spl screening to help tackle NCDs

Chennai: Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, stroke, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases and cancer account for over 60 per cent of all mortality in India.

As these conditions fail to exhibit any symptoms until complications set in, the need to detect them early was found to be the need of the hour. With this in mind, the National Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is planning to launch a population-based prevention, screening and control programme for NCDs, which will be officially launched on February 4.

Its first phase will be rolled out in 100 districts in 32 states and Union Territories with about 1,000 sub-centres undertaking screening before March 31. The programme, as a part of the National Health Mission will focus on five prevalent NCDs, namely hypertension, diabetes and cancers of oral cavity, breast and cervix.

Tamil Nadu, which will also be included under the programme, is however, ahead in terms of its efforts towards early detection of the diseases. “The state has an ongoing programme that was launched through the Tamil Nadu Health system project. The programme includes screening for diabetes and hypertension for both men and women over 30 years of age. It also includes screening for cervical and breast cancer among women and oral cancer for both,” said Dr Kulandaisamy, Director, Department of Public Health.

“Institutional as well as community based screening for oral cancer are already in place in the state. The programme has been budgeted under the National Health Ministry (NHM) and the Government of India. We are getting support from the Government of India under the NHM,” said Uma, joint director, health department,  Tamil Nadu, adding that the state will however, still fall under the programme that the national ministry is planning to launch.

With the Centre’s programme to focus on various districts, workers under the Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) and Auxiliary Nurse Midwifery (ANM) will be trained and detailed protocols for treatment, referrals and follow-up on these disease conditions will be provided.

“For some cancers, survival rates are good when they are detected and treated in early stages. Screening for these conditions, which can be undertaken at the level of the sub- centre or primary health centres (PHCs) helps early detection and also serves to raise health awareness among people to lead healthy lifestyles,” said a health official.