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Kerala to track major ailments

The first phase of the project that commences in a month, will cover 20 per cent of population in each of the 14 districts.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Achutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies and the state government are undertaking the first-ever study on non-communicable diseases to determine the current incidence and risk factors of chronic health problems. The study comes in the wake of Kerala accounting for highest incidence of diabetes, cancer, heart and lung ailments.

The first phase of the project that commences in a month, will cover 20 per cent of population in each of the 14 districts. The duration of the study is for five years during which almost entire population would be screened under the project. “The study is aimed at laying a road map for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases and reduce risk factors. We are planning to involve school children, a cross section of society, village panchayats and various departments in a big way,” said Dr Thankappan K.R., professor and head of Ach-utha Centre. According to World Health Organisation, risk factors must be examined every five years.

35% of Kerala adults use tobacco

Recent studies indicated that tobacco use among adults in Kerala was about 35 per cent which included 28 per cent smoking. Every year about 40,000 people die in Kerala because of tobacco related diseases. Cardiac diseases were also increasing by the day with. The rate of heart attacks among the population was 3.4 per cent.

Among the 24 cancer registries in the country, the registries in Thiruvananthpuaram and Kollam have reported the highest number of cancer cases. While the prevalence of diabetes is 20 per cent, lung diseases are close to 5.2 per cent. Experts say the current rate of incidence would be higher in each category.

Over 5,000 persons will be directly involved in the massive study besides the faculty of Achutha Menon Study Centre. “Till now Achutha Menon Centre has been concentrating on research programmes. But this time around we are going to be the implementing agency,” said Dr Thankappan.

Sources said close to '5 crore would be spent on the study and various government departments; health, local bodies, urban affairs, BSNL and private cellphone service providers will take part in the study.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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