CHANDIGARH: About 12, 64, 713 individuals have been screened in 2019-20 under the Non-Communicable Diseases Screening Program, out of which approximately 1, 94, 528 persons diagnosed with hypertension and all patients immediately put on treatment by the Health Department.
Giving these details in press communiqué on the World Hypertension Day, the Health Minister Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu said that in wake of COVID-19, all civil surgeons have been directed to ensure the supply of medicines to patients as hypertension and diabetes are major co-morbid conditions contributing to higher risk of acquiring COVID-19 infection. It’s on record that high mortality rate has been witnessed among the patients those were suffering from chronic diseases. He said that State Government is being provided the free of cost medicines to the patients those are on treatment for hypertension and diabetes as advised by MOs and RMOs. He said that it is necessary to keep focus on COVID-19 related activities, continuing to provide essential medicines is also important to minimize an increase in morbidity and mortality from these health conditions.
The Minister divulged that medicines are also being delivered at door steps of such patients through frontline workers/ volunteers during the period of the restricted movement so as to ensure the safety. He said that Community Health Officers have been issuing the medicine for at-least 4 weeks at a time and up-to three months depending on the availability of medicines. He said that all medicines are being rationally distributed among patients keeping in view that there should be no shortage in govt. hospitals. Instructions have been issued that Primary healthcare team at Sub Centre level, including Health Wellness Centres must be encouraged to follow the patients on treatment for hypertension and diabetes. “Staff at districts has been asked to convey message for the need of Healthy and a Low Fat and Low Salt Diet and promotion of Exercise and Yoga” he added.
He further said that WHO – supported IHCI (India Hypertension Control Initiative) project involving five districts (Bathinda, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Mansa and Pathankot) is doing well and has been extended to all the districts.