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22/09/22 07:28 AM IST

India wins UN award for hypertension control initiative

In News 
  • India won a United Nations (UN) award for its ‘India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI)’, a large-scale hypertension intervention under the National Health Mission that saw 3.4 million hypertensive people identified and put on treatment at various government health facilities.
About IHCI 
  • The India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI) is a joint initiative of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), state governments and World Health Organization-India.
  • It was launched in 2017 and expanded in a phased manner to cover more than 130 districts across 23 states in India.
  • It was given recognition for its ability to prevent and control non-communicable diseases and delivering integrated people-centric primary care.
  • The initiative controlled hypertension at the primary healthcare system level, minimising the deaths caused by heart attacks, stroke and kidney failures.
  • Under this initiative, existing healthcare delivery system was strengthened and steps were taken to improve interventions under National Health Mission.
  • Under this initiative, more than 34 lakh people with hypertension were treated in government health facilities like Ayushman Bharat Health Wellness Centres (HWCs).
  • The initiative covered simple drug-dose-specific standard treatment protocol, providing sufficient quantity of protocol medications, decentralization of care with follow-ups and refills of medicines in health wellness centres etc.
  • Data was collected to keep track of patients to control their blood pressure and maintain follow-ups.
  • Under this initiative, nearly 50 per cent of those who were treated had blood pressure under control.
  • This initiative complements the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke (NPCDCS) implemented by the Union Health Ministry.
Hypertension 
  • Hypertension is a health condition caused when the force of blood against the artery walls is high. While it is asymptomatic, it can cause conditions like heart disease and stroke if left untreated.
  • It can be prevented through the consumption of healthier diet with less salt, regular exercise and medication.
Source- Hindustan Times 

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