Chennai: Appearances of a healthy body can be most deceptive even for people aged around 30. More and more people in the age group of 30 and above are being diagnosed with chronic diseases by the day as they turn up at the Government Hospitals and Primary Health Centre (PHCs) across Tamil Nadu for various complaints and are screened with blood tests, etc.
Of 1.62 crore patients in the 30-plus age group screened for hypertension, as many as 16.21 lakh people were diagnosed with the disease. Of 1.19 crore patients tested, as many as 5.39 lakh were diagnosed to be suffering from Diabetes Mellitus.
Of 53.13 lakh women who underwent the test for cervical cancer, 2.13 lakh were found to be positive and 85,473 women out of 68.84 lakh women screened tested positive for breast cancer.
Being the seventh most populous state in India and having a population of 7.21 crore, those affected by non communicable diseases (NCDs) may be alarming. "It may not be quite appropriate to say it is alarming.
We are well within the national average in disease prevalence. In fact, Tamil Nadu is the first state in India to have thoroughly screened a fairly large number of people for NCDs," says Mr M. S. Shanmugam, Project director, Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project (TNHSP).
Instead of stopping with screening alone, the project initiates follow up action by providing free treatment to the patients screened for NCDs during July 2012 - May 2014. All who tested positive are being monitored during the follow-up at the out-patient department at the government hospitals.
Mobilising people for the screening was a big challenge. The TNHSP overcame this by conducting sensitisation programmes at 400 work places in association with Gandhigram Rural University, Madurai, besides enlisting the support of women SHGs.
About 16 districts were covered in this World Bank aided project for early detection of NCDs for treatment in the first phase in 2011 and remaining15 districts were brought under the programme during the second phase in 2012.
This systematic screening procedure involves scores of doctors, 2,100 nurses, paramedical staff and lab assistants who have been specially trained in detection and treatment. Each patient is given an identity card with number for follow-up treatment.
The programme is turning into a big hit in the rural and urban areas. While a big queue is found in front of the NCD counter at Royapettah GH here with people eagerly waiting to subject themselves to test, in the remote Kanyakumari district the nurses have been mandated to screen 20 persons a day on an average, says Dr. Mathusudhanan, deputy director of health services.
The prevalence of NCD indicates the changing lifestyles. "What we eat, the pesticides that go into the crops, exercising - at leaset walking daily, matters. It is a slow, silent and good work and people are showing positive response," Mr. Shanmugam sums up. E.o.m. Box: Free tests, medicines
All women aged 30 years and above are clinically examined and if found with abnormality or lump in the breast they are subjected to further tests and treatment.
Initially the women are screened for breast cancer and cervical cancer (via/vili) at PHC - GH. Secondary evaluation using mammography - FNAC, biopsy, nipple secretion cytology - colposcopy are done at GH.
This is followed with microscopic confirmation at government medical college hospital and based on this treatment is started at government medical college hospitals. In the case of diabetes apart from random blood sugar test, PP is also resorted to. Free treatment is given to the patients.
