Present on the occasion wereMr RR Jannu IAS, Mission Director, NRHM, Government of Karnataka; Dr Trilok Chandra, IAS, Additional Commissioner (Health), BruhatBanglaore Mahanagara Palike; Dr CN Manjunath, Director, SJICR, and DrBN Dhanya Kumar, Director of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka.The consultation was also attended by representatives from medical colleges, Indian Institute of Public Health, and civil society.
The prevalence of NCDs such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cancers is increasing in the country. High blood pressure is today a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease. In 2008, 24% of all deaths in India were from cardiovascular diseases.
Highlighting the reasons for choosing “High Blood Pressure” as the theme for World Health Day 2013, Dr Nata Menabde, WHO Representative to India, in her message on the occasion said, “High blood pressure affects one in three adults worldwide and leads to more than nine million deaths globally every year. Many people do not know they have it. Prevention and control of this silent killer requires action by the whole society.”
“In light of the increasing disease burden attributable to NCDs in India, it is essential that NCDs (including high blood pressure) are addressed in health system strengthening efforts for universal health coverage. In many countries, including India, the out-of-pocket expenditures incurred for NCDs are high, contributing to the impoverishment of households and hitting the poor the worst. Medicines for these chronic diseases account for a large portion of expenditures,” she added.
The consultation concluded that a comprehensive approach is needed across the health system to address NCDs. Further, the importance to strengthen services for NCDs including hypertension and cardiovascular diseases particularly at primary health care level was stressed.
A key message of the deliberations was that high blood pressure is both preventable and treatable, and that early detection is vital. The consultation emphasized the need for an environment conducive to healthy lifestyles, in which it is easier for all people to make choices that promote their health. Such an environment reduces exposure to the risk factors for NCDs, including food containing too much salt, sugar and fat; inadequate intake of fruits and vegetables; harmful use of alcohol; consumption of tobacco and insufficient physical activity.
It was also reiterated that cooperation between the health sector and the food and agriculture sector for the reduction of salt intake in food was important for the reduction of hypertension and related cardiovascular diseases.
The Government of India has been a key player in WHO processes towards the production of draft global and regional action plans for 2013-2020 to address NCDs, as well as the creation of a draft global monitoring framework for the prevention and control of NCDs. The monitoring framework has the overarching goal of a 25% reduction in premature mortality from NCDs by 2025. All countries are being encouraged by WHO to create national monitoring frameworks, drawing from the global one, which is expected to be approved by the World Health Assembly in May 2013.
