Secretary Health chairs review meeting on screening for lifestyle diseases

Jammu, Oct 13: Secretary Health & Medical Education (H&ME), Bhupinder Kumar Thursday chaired a review meeting regarding universal screening of non communicable diseases and common cancers of 30 plus population at Civil Secretariat, Jammu.
The meeting was attended by Mission Director, NHM J&K, Ayushi Sudan, Director Health Services, Jammu Dr. Saleem-u-Rehman, Director Health Services, Kashmir, Dr, Mushtaq Ahmad Rather besides all Chief Medical Officers and Block Medical Officer of the UT participated virtually.
Secretary, while elaborating on the subject, said that non communicable diseases are responsible for 60 percent of deaths among population which are mainly due to lifestyle changes. He emphasized the need for a serious effort to identify such patients through mass screening for initiation of early treatment and continuous follow up to avert untimely deaths.
A detailed Power Point Presentation was delivered by State Nodal Officer, NHM on the status of Population Based Screening for NCDs and common cancers at Health Wellness Centers besides Opportunistic Screening for NCDs under NPCDCS program.
The meeting had an elaborated discussion on prioritization and challenges of universal Screening for NCDs and Common Cancers at both community and facility level.
Bhupinder Kumar strictly emphasized on screening of target population for Common NCDs as well as uploading the data on NCD portal as per the targets set for each district. He directed the concerned officers to ensure that each district should device a micro plan to reach out all the target population.
Secretary asked both the Directors and the Chief Medical Officers to review progress regarding the scheme implementation on weekly basis for enhanced results. He also exhorted upon them to ensure availability of free drugs and diagnostic services in all Health and Wellness Centers.
He also directed the concerned officers to ensure that the staff posted at Health and Wellness Centers including MLHPs, ANMs (Regular/ NHM) is not relocated to any other institution under any circumstances in order to achieve the screening targets and providing the services of Comprehensive Primary Health Care.
Secretary directed all the district officers to undertake infrastructural up-gradation of remaining HWCs during the current financial year on priority.