Azad proposes to leverage NRHM for combating diabetes in India
India has the largest number of diabetic patients in the world. The urban population has ways and means for regular check up of hypertension and diabetes as facilities are available in the metropolitan cities and urban centres, but this is not so in the case of the rural population. They have hardly any access to facilities for regular medical checkup.
Since India lives in the villages, a large percentage of these diabetic populations are from the rural areas. “If diabetes cases could be easily detected and awareness created among the rural population about its implications, then a substantial dent can be made to this disease” Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister of Health & Family welfare.
On the occasion of SAARC Diabetes Conference – 2009, on Sunday, Azad said that health infrastructure developed through National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) can be leveraged for combating diabetes in India.
“We are formulating a scheme to facilitate mandatory check up of the rural population above the age of 40 years for diabetes as well as hypertension through the grassroots health workers, namely, ASHAs. These health workers can be trained and provided a diagnostic kit to detect diabetes. Simultaneously a programme for diabetes control can be launched.”
Courtesy: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare release
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