Kerala's ambitious health screening initiative has achieved a significant milestone, with over one crore people screened in its second phase of lifestyle disease prevention efforts. This comprehensive health campaign, operating under the Nava Kerala Action Plan 2 and Aardram Mission, builds upon the success of its first phase, which covered 1.54 crore people aged 30 and above.
Widespread Detection of Health Concerns
The screening results reveal concerning health trends across the population. Of those screened in the second phase, 44.85% (4,500,077 individuals) were identified with potential lifestyle diseases. The breakdown shows 13.35% with hypertension alone, 8.82% with diabetes alone, and 6% suffering from both conditions.
Cancer screening efforts identified 203,506 individuals (2.03%) requiring further evaluation. The specific distribution includes 39,889 potential oral cancer cases, 125,985 breast cancer cases, and 45,436 cervical cancer cases. However, the health department faces significant challenges in ensuring follow-up care, as evidenced by the first phase where only 150,000 out of 900,000 identified individuals pursued additional testing.
Expanded Screening Parameters
The initiative has broadened its scope to address various health concerns:
- 242,736 individuals referred for TB testing
- 387,229 for respiratory-related assessments
- 250,288 for leprosy screening
- 3,069,087 for vision testing
- 418,385 for hearing evaluations
Focus on Vulnerable Populations
Special attention has been given to vulnerable groups, with health data collected from:
- 97,769 bedridden patients
- 161,494 individuals requiring assistance
- 3,325,020 elderly individuals
Among the elderly population, 221,230 were found to have various health issues, and 129,753 were referred for mental health evaluation.
Implementation and Innovation
The program's success relies heavily on ASHA workers who conduct door-to-door screenings using the 'Shaili' app, developed by e-Health. This digital approach ensures efficient data collection and management, facilitating better follow-up care for identified cases.
To address the challenge of low follow-up rates, particularly in cancer screening, the health department has launched the 'Arogyam Anandam - Akattam Arbudam' campaign. This public awareness initiative aims to increase participation in cancer prevention and treatment programs, addressing the crucial gap between identification and treatment.
