Experts suggest action panel for control of hypertension

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 1

Experts have recommended the formation of a non-communicable disease (NCD) action committee for prioritising hypertension and a special survey to identify the affected patients suffering from hypertension at a workshop held on management and prevention of hypertension in Punjab.

The workshop was organised by the Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER, and Strategic Institute for Public Health Education and Research (SIPHER) in collaboration with Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI).

Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu promised that the Punjab Government would implement all recommendations coming out of the important consultation to decrease the prevalence of hypertension in the state.

Dr Sonu Goel, Prof, Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER, gave a presentation on the upcoming project funded by the GHAI namely ‘Strengthening of management of hypertension services through capacity building, media and communication, and stakeholders engagement in state of Punjab (SMHSP).

The representative from GHAI, Dr Om Prakash Bera, Country Coordinator, India, gave a genesis of the project and impressed upon the increased burden of cardiovascular disease in India, specifically in Punjab. He emphasised the need of state action committee for control of NCD in Punjab.

A special discussion was also carried out coordinated by Dr Rakesh Gupta, chief chemical examiner, in which experts from the department of cardiology, internal medicine, endocrinology, dietetics, yoga experts and AYUSH took place.

Hypertension has been long recognised as one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease and premature deaths worldwide. It is one of the most common lifestyle ‘silent killer’ diseases today, with every third person having suffered from it.

KS Pannu, Commissioner, FDA, Punjab, said: “In order to treat the problem of hypertension across Punjab, we need to align the treatment with the geography and culture of the state.”

He suggested that people need to stop believing whatever Doctor Google tells them and should never ignore what is wrong with their bodies. He also recommended that camps to check blood pressure should be organised in different villages across Punjab.