NCD (non-communicable Diseases) screening and establishment of primary laboratories in PHCs and taluk hospitals of eastern region of Ernakulam district.

Non communicable diseases are responsible for over 53% of deaths in India. Prevalence of diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia is on the increase. If these disease conditions are picked up early and treated along with life-style changes implementation, which would include abstinence from tobacco and alcohol, regular exercise and healthy diet, this would most definitely prevent the current pandemic of cardio-vascular disease that we now encounter.

It is most important to be able to identify the at risk group so as to be able to bring about lifestyle changes. The ENDIRA investigators along with the district NHM had previously carried out a survey in 114,064 individuals of 5 panchayats in Ernakulam district. The prevalence of diabetes/HTN/Dyslipidemia was high and more importantly 60% of individuals with HTN /diabetes and 91% with a high cholesterol were not aware of that. With this in mind the ENDIRA investigators along with the district NHM submitted a proposal to the BPCL as a part of their CSR through the offices of the MP of Chalakudy constituency Shri Innocent, which got sanctioned.

In this present study- "SHraddha-ENDIRA" we plan to survey all individuals in 27 panchayats and 3 municipalities for NCD’s through ASHA workers going to to house in their respective wards.Details would be entered on Tab PC’s with a software written for the same. All individuals > 30 years would have their sugars(glucometer), BP (digital BP) measured in this population of over 650,000. Individuals with high values on home checks are routed to the nearest PHC. All PHC’s of the 27 would be provided with semi-automatic analysers and all community/taluk and district hospitals with a fully automated analyser for bio-chemical analysis. This would work on a spoke and hub pattern. Each hub (CHC/THC/District hospital) subserving 9 spokes (PHC’s). Referral for a comprehensive analysis would ba along the same lines.

With this we believe we would making more health aware and conscious besides strengthening the public health system in this area. We believe that the same model could be replicated elsewhere to the benefit of the community and the country.

This is the largest community based screening program in India as of now.