The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Screening camps to detect diabetes, hypertension in Tirupur

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Saturday, Dec 11, 2010
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Screening camps to detect diabetes, hypertension in Tirupur

Staff Reporter

People over 30 years of age will be screened

— Photo: M.Balaji

Minister for Highways M.P. Saminathan (second right) inaugurates a screening camp in Tirupur district on Thursday.

Tirupur: Increase in diabetic population and those living with hypertension in rural areas are always a concern to the medical fraternity.

To ensure timely detection of diabetes and hypertension, the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine has launched a series of 1,500 screening camps in rural areas of Tirupur Health Unit District (HUD) on Thursday.

Minister for Highways and Minor Ports M.P.Saminathan inaugurated the first such camp at Arulpuram. The camps were programmed under ‘Nalamana Tamilagam' concept utilising the funds allocated by the Centre under National Rural Health Mission.

Indian Medical Association (Tirupur branch) president P. Ravichandran told The Hindu that about 10 per cent of the rural adult population (over 30 years age) in the State was diabetic and about 17 per cent of the adult population suffering from hypertension.

“These figures are just a tip of an iceberg since many of the cases remain undetected,” he said.

Deputy Director of Health V. Vijayalakshmi said the camps would be screening people over 30 years of age vulnerable to diabetes and hypertension, identified through the door-to-door health surveys being conducted in the rural areas.

“Those who lead sedentary lifestyle and people who consume alcohol, among a few other traits, are considered to be potential diabetics,” she added.

Tirupur Cardio-diabetic Forum president K. R. Senthilnathan pointed out that large scale screening camps in rural areas were welcome as early detection of diabetes and hypertension could reduce the health complications arising out of it.

“Diabetes and hypertension can lead to coronary artery problems, diabetic retinopathy and kidney diseases, among others,” he cautioned.

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