Disturbing data on lifestyle diseases in state
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: June 09, 2022 -

UNDER the Chief Minister's Health for All (CMHA) scheme, the state government has laid down guidelines for extending assistance to citizens suffering from any of the 10 non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

For the economically underprivileged section of the society, who are in possession of CMHT and Ayushman Bharat cards, the health screening programmes underway as per the CMHA scheme provision is an opportunity for timely detection of ailments and avail treatment at government-empanelled hospitals.

The government has done its bit to help the citizens live a healthy life as the CMHA is the first such scheme in the northeast region aimed at facilitating access to quality health care service by every citizen of the state by conducting health screening at their door steps.

As the scheme has clear-cut provision for free treatment by identifying 10 NCD diseases, those found suffering from any of the listed NCDs may avail follow up care by approaching the respective Health & Wellness Centre, CHC and PHC.

Apart from physical check-up or treatment, the scheme is also providing tele-medicine service of specialists, thus, making the scheme conveniently accessible to all.

However, it is quite disturbing to learn that the health screening programmes under the same scheme has come across high prevalence of NCD cases among both Manipuri men and womenfolk.

As revealed by top officials of the Health Directorate including its director Dr K Rajo on Tuesday citing the WHO (2015) and ICMR (2016) reports, NCDs accounted for 60 per cent of deaths, indicating that sedentary lifestyle is taking a deadly toll in the country.

Another distressful aspect of the health screening programmes is the confirmation that there is not much difference in the number of Manipuri men and women suffering from NCDs.

In view of machines and electrical devices making manual household chores easier these days, it's not surprising that those who could afford modern gadgets are living life with comfort, consequently undermining the importance of maintaining good health.

Though there has been increasing number of young women hitting the gym to keep in shape, the survey, reports are testament that for the middle-aged and working women advent of assistive machines is turning out to be serious threat to their health compared to the menfolk, who could spare time for physical activities, if there is the will.

That sedentary lifestyle is the root cause of NCDs could be gauged from the officials' disclosure that of the 1,41,519 screening done so far under the CMHA, 54,896 people were found to be suffering from hypertension and 13,077 from other NCD diseases.

For now, the focus of the screening programmes is reported to be limited to detecting hypertension and diabetic cases but it could be guaranteed that among the other NCD diseases related to tobacco and liquor consumption would be high as well.

While drives to prohibit sale and consumption of tobacco products haven't been effective, a recent survey report ranking a dry state like Manipur among the five top states in the liquor consumption chart suggests that there are substantial number of citizens who are naively believing that the government's healthcare scheme would guarantee them longevity.