Amrutham Arogyam – Project to screen people for lifestyle diseases

A unique project to screen all the people above the age of 30 years in the state for life style diseases was formally launched in Kerala today. Prof. K.V. Thomas, Minsiter of State for Food and Public Distribution inaugurated the project ‘Amrutam Arogyam’ at Kochi.

About one crore people of the state will be screened for life style diseases and will be provided with free treatments and medicines through the project.

According to various studies, over 40 per cent of Keralites were estimated to be suffering from high blood pressure. Filtered data from Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology study, a multi-country study conducted among 35 to 70-year-olds between 2003 and 2009. A community-based study from Kerala, sponsored by the Indian Council of Medical Research in 2010, estimates the prevalence of hypertension at around 32.7 per cent in the State.

In addition to the diagnosis facility in the community health centres, screening camps and mobile screening vans also will be arranged as part of the project. The project is being implemented jointly by the National Rural Health Mission and the State Health Department.


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