The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Preventive health programme

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 03, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Preventive health programme

Special Correspondent

INTO THE FOLD: A volunteer being initiated at Uppathur village.

CHENNAI: A preventive health programme aimed at reducing chronic renal failure (CRF) by detecting and managing diabetes and blood pressure was launched in Uppathur near Kovilpatti on Wednesday.

The project will cover two neighbouring villages too and is a corporate social responsibility initiative of Loyal Textile Mills. In the first phase, at least 12,000 people will be covered — tested for abnormal blood pressure and blood sugar and prescribed medicines if necessary. The mentor for this programme is renowned nephrologist M.K. Mani who has demonstrated success (a 79 per cent reduction) in preventing CRF in a group of villages near Sriperumbudur using this model.

It works on the principle that keeping blood pressure and sugar under check will help prevent renal failure. The added advantage is that the incidence of cardio vascular diseases and stroke also goes down with consistent control of blood pressure.

Dr. Mani has trained the women paramedical staff, who have been recruited from within the villages, to measure blood pressure and urine albumin and sugar, according to Manikam Ramaswami, Chairman and Managing Director, Loyal Textile Mills.

These women will go from house to house testing all the family members. Those with aberrations will receive treatment, again under the directly observed administration process. A doctor will visit the villages regularly and prescribe medicines. The cost works out to Rs.70 per person, Mr. Ramaswami said, adding that the company would bear all expenses.

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