Kerala Launches Schemes to Prevent Lifestyle Diseases, Focus on CHD Among Kids

Kerela’s Left Democratic Front (LDF) government has launched health schemes to ensure inclusive facilities for all. With lifestyle diseases being a major threat in the state, the government has decided to launch ‘healthy walkways’ in all the Assembly constituencies to prevent and control such diseases. 

Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) will be provided with follow-up programmes to ensure their better physical and mental well-being. The state government had already started the Hridyam Mission in 2019 to further reduce the infant mortality rate (IMR).

The tribal population of Attapadi, Palakkad district, will get services of AYUSH-integrated hospitals. The government has also announced a slew of measures in the AYUSH sector.

FIGHT AGAINST LIFESTYLE DISEASES

Despite performing better in several health index parameters, Kerala has the dubious distinction of being home to a higher number of deaths caused by lifestyle diseases in the productive age population. 

Diabetes, hypertension, obesity, hyperlipidemia, heart attack and stroke are more prevalent in the state. The LDF government has also launched door-to-door screening of lifestyle diseases to identify and treat such patients. 

“The government has decided to set up healthy walkways in all the 140 Assembly constituencies to prevent and control noncommunicable diseases. We have screened 25 lakh people across the state to identify such diseases. Treatment will be provided free of cost,” Veena George, the minister for health and family welfare, said, according to a report filed by The Hindu. 

The walkways will have green paths, open gyms and play areas for the public to do exercises and play sports. Local self-governance groups and the department of sports will identify land for the walkways and monitor them. 

The door-to-door campaign, which covered people above 30 years, was conducted by Accredited Social Health Activists and the data collected were updated in an android app called Shylee (meaning style). 

SPECIAL CARE IN PAEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY

The number of children with CHD is on a rise in the state, posing a challenge to the state. The Hridyam Mission provides healthcare to children affected by heart-related diseases. The government will provide psychological and medical support to children receiving treatment and their parents starting this year. 

“The state has made remarkable achievements in the health sector, including controlling infant mortality rate. This scheme is aimed at further reducing the IMR and ensuring proper support to the affected children. The government wants to ensure that the children who undergo treatment lead a normal life,” George said during a meeting on the occasion of World Heart Day at SAT Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, on September 29.

District Early Intervention Centres will do the follow-up with support from nurses of RBSK. The Kerala Heart Foundation will also actively participate in the programme.

AYUSH FACILITIES FOR ATTAPADI

The state government has allotted Rs 97.77 crore for improving AYUSH facilities across the state—a threefold increase in the allocation compared to the previous year, George had told the media last week. 

A 50-bed AYUSH-integrated hospital at a cost of Rs 15 crore will be set up for the tribal population of Attapadi. Kottarakkara and Adoor will also have 30- and 10-bed hospitals, respectively.

Another 280 AYUSH dispensaries would be upgraded as Ayush Arogya Swastha Kendras in addition to the 240 dispensaries. 

A sum of Rs 5.25 crore has been allocated to convert two ayurveda and homeopathy medical colleges each into patient friendly hospitals. Five districts will have AYUSH laboratories to provide low-cost tests. 

To prevent anaemia among children, ayurveda medicines will be distributed through ICDS centres under the Arunima programme.