Call for more funding to tackle non-communicable diseases’

Health officials and doctors in the state have begun to make efforts to help the govt reach the Government of India’s goal of checking (Non-Communicable Diseases) NCD, by 2025.

Stating that the key to achieving these goals is ‘prevention’, Dr Anjana Mohan, a diabetologist, said, “Only when we focus on prevention will we be able to see the burden of NCDs coming under control. We must therefore talk to people who are at higher risks about stress reduction, practicing yoga, etc. The good thing about NCDs is that the risk factors are common and prevention strategies are easier. Therefore, if we can educate them about the prevention, it will surely help in achieving the goals.”

She also said, “People need to be educated on the importance of good eating and a healthy lifestyle and efforts are being made for the same. As our diet consists of 67 per cent carbohydrates, people must start focusing on increasing their fruit and vegetable intake,” added Dr Anjana. 

Stating that funding is essential for achieving such goals, Dr GR Ravindranath of the Doctors’ Association for Social Equality said that while the initiative is more than welcome, the only way of achieving the goal is by allotting more money. “Ours is one of the few countries where health funding is very low and that needs to be changed,” he said.