Over 500 villagers turn up in free health camp at Chandel

Chandel, March.1: In an unprecedented scale, NCD cell Chandel District Hospital in collaboration with Kappam Baptist Church organized  a one day free health camp and screening programme.
The health camp was mainly emphasized on screening of  Non-communicable Diseases(NCDs)such as heart attacks and stroke, Diabetes, Chronic Respiratory Diseases(Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases and Asthma) and Cancer ( oral ,breast , cervix ,prostate etc.).
Babina Diagnostics, Sky hospital, doctors and staff nurses of PHC Komlathabi and Palel and local volunteers also play a major role in making the camp a successful one.
The function was chaired by village chief R.Jindashing Moyon as the chief guest and Dr.Gilbertv Sumpi Distict Nodal Officer NCD/ National program for prevention and control of Cancer Diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) as president.
Resource persons Dr.Meghanath Angom (Gynaecologist) and Dr.Manoranjan Laiphrakpam ( surgeon) Distict Nodal Officer Pallitive care unit District hospital Chandel gave awareness of present changing trend of NCD, risk factors and its measures for prevention.
Ng.Kamchung Moyon APM, NCD cell Chandel and Rev. Philip Roel carried out the herculean task of coordinating and managing the programme.The screening program was organised with support of Dr Y Premchandra Singh ,State Nodal officer NPCDCS.
A large number of man, woman and children of the village turn up and take the advantage of free health camp. According to our sources, such a large population based screening health camp has never been done in Chandel district.
A total of 506 villagers were screened for NCD including pap smear screening of 97 suspected females of cervical cancer, thyroid test for 206 persons with fnac of thyroid for 9 patients, blood sugar check up for 390 persons, blood pressure check up for 405 persons, ECG test for 84 persons suspected of heart disease and verified 26 persons for free echocardiography ,breast cancer screening for 180 females with fnac for 9 suspected breast cancer, prostate specific antigen test for 12 males with digital rectal examination, eye check up for 278 persons along with free distribution of medicines.
Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) are currently the leading cause of preventable deaths and disability in India. They are the leading cause of death, accounting for over 60% of premature mortality.
Non-communicable Diseases are rightly called ‘Silent’ diseases as they may not cause any symptoms for many years.  Screening for common NCDs like Diabetes and Hypertension periodically helps to detect them early and manage them with lifestyle modifications and treatment.
Nearly half of population with diabetes and hypertension is estimated to be undetected in India and with screening programmes, they are likely to be identified and appropriately treated. Early diagnosis and treatment would avert complication like heart attacks, stroke, kidney diseases, blindness etc.
which are not only life threatening but also expensive to manage. An additional benefit of population based screening is to assess risk profile of every individual including tobacco and alcohol use, unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity etc. 
There is an urgent need to undergo such population based screening and mass awareness programme  in every nook and corner of our state to find out the  incidence and prevelance of NCD at the grass root level and treat at the earliest.
Such mass screening programme requires huge manpower, financial assistance and participation of both public and private firms. The organizing Committee also draw the attention of the government of Manipur and related Departments through media to organize such population based screening and mass awareness of NCD to be held more frequently specially in the hilly areas of Manipur.