Latest news with #NationalProgrammeforPreventionandControlofNon-CommunicableDiseases
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Experts call for inclusion of Chronic Kidney Disease in national NCD programme
Hyderabad-based dialysis care network, NephroPlus, has urged policymakers to include Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) screening in India's flagship National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), as it released a white paper highlighting the rising burden of CKD across India and neighbouring countries. Speaking at a media briefing in Hyderabad on Tuesday, NephroPlus Group CEO Rohit Singh said the findings of the white paper and a large-scale screening initiative make a strong case for integrating CKD testing, particularly serum creatinine and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR), into existing government-led screenings for hypertension and diabetes. 'The burden is silent but severe. CKD needs to be part of India's NCD strategy immediately,' he said. The paper is based on data from a kidney health screening campaign conducted in the lead-up to World Kidney Day in March. The campaign spanned 30 locations across India, the Philippines, and Uzbekistan, and covered 12 Indian States. A total of 10,501 persons pledged for kidney health awareness, of whom more than 5,000 underwent free serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) tests. NephroPlus found that several Indian States reported high prevalence of CKD risk factors. Jharkhand topped the list, followed by Haryana and Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat and Rajasthan. NephroPlus co-founder Kamal D. Shah stressed the economic and emotional toll of dialysis. 'Dialysis is not just a treatment; it is a lifelong ordeal that drains families physically, emotionally and financially. Our data shows that investing ₹1 in prevention saves ₹10 to ₹15 in future dialysis costs,' he said.
New Indian Express
02-05-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
MGR Medical University team along with health department aims to screen 50,000 tribals in Jawadhu Hills for fatty liver disease
CHENNAI: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University, in collaboration with the health department, has started a pilot study to estimate the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among tribal communities of Jawadhu Hills in Tiruvannamalai district. The study aims to screen a population of 50,000 and identify high-risk individuals by checking for abdominal obesity, family history of diabetes and hypertension. So far, over 500 tribals have been screened and 120 blood samples analysed. Preliminary findings show that 10-14% fall under the high-risk (FIB-4) category for liver fibrosis (scarring of the liver). Those identified will undergo a fibroscan to confirm the extent of fibrosis. Initial screenings are being conducted through medical camps and individuals requiring further assessment are referred to primary health centres. Titled the Community Screening Programme for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), the study seeks to evaluate the feasibility, scalability and sustainability of interventions to reduce fatty liver disease in tribal areas. MASLD, previously known as Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), is caused by excessive fat accumulation in the liver in individuals with little or no alcohol consumption. MASLD is included in the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) under the Union Health Ministry, given its links to India's growing burden of lifestyle diseases. The programme emphasises early screening, lifestyle changes and health system integration.
