Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 8: Emphasizing primary care approach as an alternate and viable model to prevent and control cardiovascular diseases among common populace Dr. Sushil Sharma, HoD Cardiology GMC, Jammu conducted a day long health camp at Chandi Mata Mandir, Lower Jallo Chak, Bari Brahmana.
More than 500 patients were screened, evaluated and sensitised for various health ailments. Blood sugar, ECG tests were performed and medicines given as per the requirements.
While interacting with the people Dr Sushil stated that for any meaningful effect in treatment and control of CVD in our region, healthcare must be brought closer to the people. “Since the global burden of disease has continued to shift from communicable diseases to non-communicable diseases with cardiovascular disease taking the lead, it is imperative that primary prevention should have a high priority for CVD control. Further limited resources and the high cost of CVD treatment also necessitates a model that has to be built around a non-physician workforce and at the community level, including community health workers, nurses, religious trusts, and other allied health professionals in the primary care settings”, he said.
Elaborating on the different contours of this approach, Dr Sharma said that non-physician health workers can be trained in the simple skills of taking a detailed history from patients and good physical examination. “They should be trained in the effective use of basic instruments such as stethoscope, blood pressure devices, measuring tapes and weighting scale. Further to prevent an explosion of the growing risks of CVD in our region, there must be interventions at the community level, targeting people who do not have established CVD, by reducing risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus and smoking. To prevent an unhealthy diet, the consumption of local fruit and vegetables should be promoted as well as reduction of intake of salt, refined sugars and animal fat,” he said, adding the promotion of moderate physical activity should be encouraged. “At the primary care level, hypertension is also preventable through a proper diet and physical exercise.
Others who were instrumental in organising the camp includes Dr S K Bali (Nephrologist), Dr Vyas Dev (Ortho Surgeon), Dr Javed Iqbal, Dr Abdul Hamid and Dr Dhaneshwar Kapoor.
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