STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The Consumers’ Legal Protection Forum (CLPF), with the support of Consumer VOICE, New Delhi organized a workshop on the rising burden of NCDs and the prevention and care of hypertension on Wednesday in Guwahati. In the workshop, it came to light that the prevalence of hypertension is found to be high in Assam, while awareness is quite low, especially in rural Assam. It is estimated that one in every four adults in India has hypertension, and the situation is no different in Assam.
In his inaugural speech, Dr. Nakul Shyam, Additional Director of Health Services, Government of Assam, said that regular screening has been prioritized by the state government and has helped us identify areas, especially rural areas, where there is a high prevalence of hypertensive individuals with a low level of awareness. It is important to strengthen the screening process and include ASHA workers and health care workers proactively.
In the workshop, attending as a recourse person, Dr. Rahul K. Sharma, State Programme Officer, NCD, National Health Mission, speaks on ‘NCD control in Assam with specific reference to hypertension’; Dr. Mousumi Krishnatreya, Associate Professor, Community Medicine, Gauhati Medical College, speaks on ‘Treatment Adherence: Key to Hypertension Management. Dr. Jitumoni Kalita, Cardiologist, Down Town Hospital, Guwahati, on ‘Hypertension Management: Key to Reducing Stroke and Heart Attacks, and Dr. Hrisikesh Sarma, Karyakarta, National Medicos Organisation, on The Role of Primary Health Care Centres in Prevention and Control of NCDs and Hypertension.” All experts empathise with early detection and treatment of hypertension and making lifestyle modifications to control blood pressure. According to them, “most Indians are not aware that they are suffering from hypertension. This leads to increased cases of stroke and cardiac arrest. This is the reason why not only the elderly but also young men and women are falling prey to various heart ailments.”
Also Watch: