Centre launches scheme to check diabetes, hypertension

New Delhi, July 19 (PTI) In a major initiative to
check diabetes and hypertension, the Indian government Tuesday
launched a scheme under which the entire slum population and
urban poor in Delhi will be screened for the diseases over the
next two months.
The initiative is part of Indian Health Ministry's
ambitious programme to screen people for diabetes and
hypertension in 100 select districts and 33 cities with more
than 10 lakh population.
Launching the scheme along with Delhi Chief Minister
Sheila Dikshit, Indian Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said
government will maintain a database of the people affected
with the diseases and remedial measures would be provided to
them through direct communication as well by sending SMS.
"We have launched the scheme to contain the disease.
Diabetes proves to be a hurdle in treatment of other diseases
and we must take effective steps to contain it," Azad said.
He said keeping in mind the need for early detection
of Non Communicable Diseases for effective treatment, the
ambitious programme for screening of diabetes and hypertension
has been initiated by the government. The cost of the
programme in 100 districts and 33 cities would be Rs 1,230
crore.
Asking the Delhi Government to implement the scheme
effectively, he also appealed to all the Delhi MPs, MLAs and
MCD councillors to extend their cooperation in making the
programme a success. He said the screening of the people in
Delhi would be completed by August 30.
The Minister said as the current programme does not
include children, a separate pilot project would be launched
in six select states in the country under which only children
will be screened for the disease.
Azad said after one year, the Ministry will get a
"complete picture" of prevalence of diabetes among various
sections of society and accordingly policies will be framed
to deal with the disease.
"After conducting the screenings on urban poor,
children and general adult, we will have a complete picture
about the prevalence of the disease and it will help us in
effective control of it," he said, adding that government has
plans to screen the entire population to detect diabetes.
Later, asked about New Delhi-based Centre for Science
and Environment's (CSE) report that some energy drinks
contained "dangerously high-levels" of caffeine, Azad evaded a
direct reply but said usually action follows only after
carrying proper research on such reports which come to the
Ministry.
"Usually action only follows after thorough research,"
he said.
The study by CSE's pollution monitoring lab found that
44 per cent of the samples tested 'breached' the safe limit of
145 parts per million (ppm) of caffeine prescribed by the
Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954.
Dikshit, in her speech, identified diabetes as a major
non-communicable disease and said the city government will
leave no stone unturned in ensuring proper screening of the
slum population as well as urban poor under the scheme.
Delhi Health Minister A K Walia said diabetes test
centres have been put up across the city to conduct the
screening of the target group.
Asked about Centre's affidavit in the Delhi High Court
that it was against sale of junk food and carbonated drinks in
and around educational institutions, Dikshit said her
government has already prohibited sale of junk food in and
around schools and any policy in this regard by Health
Ministry would be followed.