The state government on Monday announced a year-long comprehensive health plan to check the increasing number of lifestyle diseases that seem to be affecting people in the state.

The health minister, Mr Adoor Prakash told mediapersons after a meeting with district panchayat presidents and mayors here on Monday that free medicines would be provided to 50 lakh people in the state to tackle the diseases.

Of the Rs 25 crore required for the programme, Rs 20 crore will come from the Union government under Central schemes meant for control of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, blood pressure, heart trouble, cancer and paralysis, the health minister explained.

Asha workers and activists of voluntary organisations would visit 50 houses in each ward
to create awareness about these lifestyle diseases.

And in all, one lakh house visits would be made over the next year as part of the programme, he added.

“The screening is aimed at identifying people who are at risk of developing lifestyle diseases over the next 10 years, Mr Prakash said.

“The state government also plans to open lifestyle diseases control clinics at all its health centres, which will work once a week,” the health minister said, adding that the idea was to cut down lifestyle diseases by 50 per cent in the state.