Odisha kicks off community screening for 5 NCDs

BHUBANESWAR: In a boost to preventive healthcare, Odisha Government on Tuesday began the much-awaited community screening programme for five non-communicable diseases (NCDs) - diabetes, hypertension, oral, breast and cervical cancer, in the State.

Odisha, in fact, became the first State in the country, to implement the programme under which Asha workers will visit door-to-door and screen families for the five NCDs.
 Started in Khurda district, the programme would be extended to six other districts and two urban areas of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.

Seven districts - Khurda, Cuttack, Ganjam, Rayagada, Sambalpur, Kalahandi and Puri have been included in the first phase. State Nodal Officer of NCDs Dr PKB Patnaik said, of 100 districts selected in the country initially, five districts were from Odisha. Kalahandi and Puri districts were added in the list taking into account the prevalence of diseases, he said.
“The screening for diseases was first conducted at Malipada PHC (New) and later extended to 10 sub-centres under Haladia CHC. Similar exercise will be conducted in Cuttack district soon and thereafter,” he said.

The initiative is a part of National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS). Asha workers would screen people above the age of 30 and refer them for health check ups, if necessary.

After preliminary screening by Asha, cases found with symptoms will be checked at nearby PHCs every Thursday. A Visual Inspection with Acetic acid (VIA) test would be conducted on suspected cancer patients before they are referred to medical colleges or Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Centre (AHRCC).