Our Correspondent
Mokokchung, April 22 (EMN): A three-day training on India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI) held at IDSP conference hall, Mokokchung, concluded on April 21.
The activities during the three-day training programme included screening for hypertension, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and stroke. It aims at accelerating progress towards the government of India’s goal of 25% reduction in mortality due to non-communicable diseases by 2025.
Dr. Mohamed Jainul Azarudeen, consultant (medical) of NIE (ICMR), Chennai, and Dr. Shubhabrata Das, consultant (medical) of ICMR, Northeast Region IHCI, were the resource persons of the training.
The aim of the training was to build competencies of healthcare workers on hypertension treatment as per the standard state specific treatment protocol using a patient-centric approach and strengthening the drug logistic systems at the district and healthcare facilities. The training also included monitoring and supervision of hypertension control programmes.
Participants of the training included doctors, nurses and pharmacists from all levels of the healthcare facilities under Mokokchung district.
A study published in the National Medical Journal of India titled “Prevalence of risk factors for non-communicable diseases in a rural tribal population of Mokokchung, Nagaland, India” has shown various risk factors for non-communicable diseases despite a high awareness level (60 – 90 %). Prevalence of hypertension was also found to be very high (43%), which was above the national average.
Another study on “Deaths due to non-communicable diseases among the tribal population in India: Mokokchung, Nagaland” showed circulatory system (IHD and Cerebrovascular) to be the leading cause of death (37%) and stroke was the major sub category leading to 23% of all deaths. High blood pressure was the world’s leading killer and a silent killer.
Under the IHCI, individuals with high blood pressure would be registered in a mobile app and be provided with a hypertension passport (treatment card). Treatment of hypertension would be based on three drugs which would be made available free of cost at government facilities.
India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI) project is a multi-partner initiative of Indian Medical Council of Medical Research (ICMR), World Health Organisation (WHO), and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW), Government of India, in collaboration with the state government.
National Institute of Epidemiology (ICMR), Chennai, is the nodal agency for implementing the project. India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI) in Mokokchung district was launched by the chief medical officer (CMO), Mokokchung, on April 19.