Bihar CM launches campaign for early detection, treatment of non-communicable diseases

Patna, Sep 2 (IANS) Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary launched the ‘Jaanch evam Upchar Chikitsa Aapke Dwar (Screening and Treatment at Your Doorstep)’ campaign on Wednesday, aimed at ensuring early detection and timely treatment of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across the state.

Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav, along with state Health Minister Nishant Kumar, were present at the launch event.

The campaign seeks to reduce risk factors and prevent premature deaths by promoting the early detection of NCDs.

Under the initiative, people will be screened and provided management support for conditions including diabetes, hypertension, three major common cancers — oral, breast and cervical — heart disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

As part of the campaign, health workers will visit households to provide free health consultations and facilitate registration at health institutions.

Patients requiring further evaluation will also be provided free essential laboratory and diagnostic tests at nearby health facilities.

ASHA workers and ASHA facilitators, accompanied by ANMs, will conduct door-to-door surveys, fill out family folders and Community-Based Assessment Checklist (CBAC) forms to identify high-risk individuals, prepare patient line-lists, and encourage patients to follow prescribed medication and follow-up schedules.

Meanwhile, Community Health Officers (CHOs) and ANMs will screen people aged 30 years and above at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs based on height, weight and Body Mass Index (BMI).

Critical cases will be referred to higher-level health facilities, while medicines will be facilitated through tele-consultation where required.

Medical Officers will supervise necessary tests, OPD-based screening and treatment, and the management of complex cases.

They will also be responsible for ensuring accurate and timely data entry.

To ensure effective monitoring, a system of regular reviews has been put in place at the block and district levels.

At the block level, the Block Community Mobiliser (BCM) will act as the nodal officer while the Block Health Manager (BHM) and Medical Officer-in-Charge will conduct daily reviews and address any gaps.

At the district level, an NCD nodal officer will be designated to oversee the campaign.

The Civil Surgeon-cum-Member Secretary, District Programme Manager (DPM), and District Monitoring and Evaluation Officer (DM&EO) will review the campaign’s progress, along with the availability of human resources and medicines, through video conferencing.

The State Health Society has directed officials to ensure real-time data entry on the NCD portal throughout the campaign, with the goal of achieving 100 per cent of the targets set under the initiative.

–IANS

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