Events & Issues

New Delhi, 9 August 2010

Tackling Lifestyle Diseases Head On

GOVT UNVEILS AMBITIOUS PLAN

By Suraj Saraf

Obesity has assumed epidemic form in India. About 30 million Indians are obese and 20% school children overweight, according to a National Health Sample Survey recently.

This alarming increase in obesity is increasing the risk of contracting Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, osteoarthritis, various types of cancer, infertility and many more diseases.

To tackle these ‘lifestyle diseases’ head on, the Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved a national programme costing Rs.1230 crore for the remaining part of the 11^th Plan. Of this, Rs.400 crore would be utilized for containing the spread of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, stroke and the rest for cancer control.

This would be implemented between the Centre and States on a cost-sharing basis in a ratio of 80% and 20%. There would be an Empowered Programme Committee and a Mission Steering Group. The Cabinet also authorized these bodies to approve financial norms under the National Rural Health Mission in respect of all aspects of this project.

The new programme would be executed in 20,000 sub centres and 700 Community Health Centres in 100 districts in 15 States to begin with. This would be done by promoting healthy lifestyle through massive health education and mass media efforts at village level, “opportunistic screening” of persons above the age of 30 years, establishment of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) clinics in Community Health Centres at the district level, development of trained man-power and strengthening of tertiary level health facilities.

Importantly, over seven crore adult population would be screened for diabetes and hypertension to ensure early diagnosis of NCDs and offer treatment at the initial stage itself. To fill the gap in the health delivery system about 32,000 health personnel would be trained to provide opportunities and targeted screening diagnosis and management of NCDs.

With the successful implementation of this ambitious health programme, it is expected to achieve behavioural changes in the community to adopt a healthy lifestyle including dietary patterns, enhanced physical activity and reduced intake of tobacco and alcohol resulting in overall reduction in the risk factors of common NCDs.

Indeed, the programme has become necessary in view of the rising burden of NCDs in the country. It is estimated that theses cause 42% of the total deaths in the country with considerable lose in the potentially productive years of life.

Cardiovascular diseases are expected to be the largest cause of death in India by 2020, according to a World Health Organisation Report in 2002. Similarly diabetes will rise to 62.47 per thousand population, hypertension to 159.46, heart diseases to 37.00 and stroke to 1.54 per thousand. The number of cancer patients is estimated to be over 25 lakh. The new programme assumes crucial significance in view of the enormous financial loss caused by the NCDs to the country.

In fact, a recent research done in England highlighted that children of working mothers are more prone to lifestyle diseases. As they are likely to spend more time in front of the TV, do less exercise, snack on fizzy drinks and eat much less fruits and vegetables, in comparison to the stay-at-home moms wherein children get the most nutritious diet and enjoy more exercise.

Researchers, however, said this did not mean that mothers should not work. Citing lack of time as the main reason behind children’s unhealthy lifestyles they stated there is a link between employment and a lifestyle which leaves kids more at risk from obesity and disease. Researches also noted that mothers who work full-time have greater barriers in providing their children with healthy food option than mothers who work part-time.

Needless to say, these findings should not be used to undermine the working mother, but used as a basis for more work on helping them, argued the UK-based Family and Parenting Institute. “A better system of health visitors who could advice on dietary and lifestyle habits was in need of funding, the Institute asserted. Adding, “What children are given outside the home would set the standard for what they will expect at other times.”

Interestingly, other campaigns have been launched in this regard. Among these is the Save the Children, working for child rights, launched by an NGO. The NGA showcased an efficient integration of health, nutrition, water and sanitation intervention to improve the quality of life of the rural populace in few villages in the tribal-dominated Banswara district in South Rajasthan.

Calling its campaign “Aapno Swasthya Aapno Haath” (our health in our hands), this NGO has catalyzed community structures to improve health and the nutritional outcome for children below five years. The organization proposes to reduce the newborn, child mortality and malnutrition by increasing access and availability of quality health services, improving health practices and enhancing the capacities of various stakeholders. The project has targeted three districts to benefit pregnant mothers, lactating mothers, newborns, infants and children up to five years.

The organization is also working closely with women’s self-help groups and support groups to create awareness about water and sanitation issues. Efforts were also being made to mobilize Government functionaries to address the difficulties faced by the rural people in the targeted area.

The NGO’s secretary averred, “The Project had proved to be a boon. It has increased access to quality services, improved the awareness and acceptance of key health practices and enhanced the capacities of public health outreach workers, besides improving the quality of life and children below the age of five.”

Meanwhile, according to media reports, British child health experts have underscored that parents who failed to help an obese child to exercise properly, ignoring all advice and guidance, could be guilty of neglect. The Institute of Child Health, London, made plain, “We believe that childhood obesity becomes a child protection concern when parents believe in a way that actively promotes treatment failure in a child who is at serious risk from obesity and when the parents understand what is required and are helped to engage with the treatment programme.”

In sum, India’s health establishments need to take note of London’s research. Which discovered increasing evidence linking adolescent and adult obesity with childhood sexual abuse, violence and neglect. Especially against the backdrop wherein obesity puts the child at risk of disease such as raised blood pressure or diabetes. ---INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)