Helping Hand sets up NCD clinic in Old City

Bahadurpura: Given the health scenario in Old City, which is considered to be the epicentre for NCDs (non-communicable diseases), the health care NGO, Helping Hand Foundation (HHF), which is running a community health centre at Masjid-e-Ishaq in Nawab Sahab Kunta near Bahadurpura, has taken up another public health initiative by launching a first-of-its-kind NCD clinic there.

It was launched on Friday. Over 70 people mostly men who had gathered for Jumma prayers were screened for diabetes, hypertension, obesity, cardiovascular, kidney disease and cancer etc.

As many as 45 per cent of people were found to be hypertensive and 20 per cent were unaware of their health status. And 65 per cent were found to be in high risk zone with BMIs (Body Mass Index) greater than 25 and all those with BMIs above 25 were detected with high blood pressure and 25 per cent had both high BP and blood sugars. Many were found to be irregular in taking medication.

"India is experiencing a rapidly rising burden of non-communicable diseases, surpassing the burden of communicable diseases like water-borne or vector borne diseases, TB, HIV, etc.

The NCDs like cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes etc., are estimated to account for around 60 per cent of all deaths," said Mujtaba Hasan Askari of Helping Hand Foundation. According to HHF, free medication, referral to higher centres for NCD complications, counselling on lifestyle changes would be packaged and offered to the economically weaker sections in the slums through the Masjid community health centre.

The NCD clinic started by HHF followed the WHO, Step-1 of recording demography, smoking and alcohol history followed by step-2 recording physical inactivity, diet history and the unit comprised trained community medicine doctors, nurses and counsellors equipped with BP apparatus and Glucometer, weight machine and tap. "The purpose of the NCD clinic is to detect hidden and known cases of diabetes, hypertension and other chronic diseases in the community and help them with counselling and link them to the public health system for zero cost treatment," said Mujtaba Askari.

"The overall objective of the NCD screening programme is early detection and prompt treatment so that the burden of disease is minimised through assessment and prompt treatment," said Dr Md Abdul Basheer, the chief medical officer at Helping Hand Foundation.