A mass screening programme to identify persons afflicted with “silent killers” – diabetes and hypertension – in Delhi's slums was launched by Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in the presence of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Delhi Health Minister A. K. Walia at Talkatora Stadium here on Tuesday.
Mr. Azad said the mass screening would cover the Capital's slum clusters to identify persons afflicted with diabetes and hypertension as these two disorders result in a number of complications.
Noting that retinopathy, cataract, nephropathy, neuropathy, heart diseases, paralysis, gangrene, ulcers and fungal infections can be caused by diabetes and hypertension, the Health Minister urged slum dwellers to get examined in these camps, which would be organised close to their residence.
“The screening will be conducted for all persons above the age of 30 years and all pregnant women irrespective of their age. Early detection will go a long way in curbing diabetes and hypertension,” he said.
During the launch, 20 testing units were also deployed at Talkatora Stadium to conduct screening and provide on-the-spot reports to the slum dwellers who had come in for the event.
On the need for the project, Mr. Azad said non-communicable diseases have become the cause for about 50 per cent of all deaths in the country.There are 5.1 crore diabetic patients in India, second after China.More than 30 lakh people die due to diabetes every year in the world and in India the number would touch 2.36 lakh in 2015.
The Central Government has decided to screen around 5 crore people before September 2011 when the United Nations General Assembly will hold a special session to discuss measures to control these diseases, the Minister said. This pilot project, costing Rs.1,230 crore, would seek to control cancer, diabetes, heart diseases and strokes in 100 districts of 21 States and urban slums in 33 cities.
While a nationwide project will be launched in 2012 to root out such diseases, Mr. Azad said under the pilot project, a cardiac care unit at cost of Rs.1.5 crore will be established in 100 district hospitals. Besides, 700 other places would be provided facilities for diagnosis and management of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and strokes.
Ms. Dikshit said the Delhi Government is already organising special diabetes clinics in all its 31 hospitals on Mondays and Wednesdays. She said all persons diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure during the screening in the slums will be treated and referred to hospitals for further guidance and treatment.
Noting that the campaign is focused on slums as the population there has poor access to health facilities, she said these diseases can be contained with good eating habits, better life style and exercise
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