PGI Organises Training Programme on “Burden of NCD Risk Factors in Punjab State”

By 121 News Reporter

Chandigarh 10^th October:- A Training of Investigators and Surveillance Teams under the project entitled, "Burden of NCD Risk Factors in Punjab State" was organized by School of Public Health, PGIMER in Collaboration with Government Medical Colleges at Amritsar, Fardikot and Patiala and Christian Medical College, Ludhiana from 9^thto 12^th October, 2014. The Project is supported by National Health Mission, Punjab through State NCD cell and is funded by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India. The inaugural function was held on 9^th October, 2014. A total of 30 participants including investigators and field surveillance team are attending the training. The National and local level faculty members will be the resource persons for four-day training. The key sessions during the first day were overview of the burden of chronic diseases, NCD surveillance and their importance for evidence-based public health interventions, data collection methods, sampling, demonstration of devices and equipments, and discussion about the STEPS instrument for data collection.

 

Dr. JS Thakur, Additional Professor, School of Public Health, PGIMER and Principal Investigator of the project informed that the objectives of the NCD risk factor survey are to determine the prevalence of the risk factors for NCDs (mainly diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and chronic kidney diseases); to prepare a baseline state level data for national action plan and monitoring framework for NCDs and to assess the economic burden of NCDs in households in the Punjab state.

 

Dr. JS Cheema, Joint Director (Health), Punjab during inaugural function expressed that NCDs is not only a problem in India but it has also become an important public health problem in the state of Punjab. He thanked PGIMER for their cooperation and collaborating with the Department of Health, Punjab for carrying out this NCD risk survey. He emphasized upon the importance of collecting the data as per the guidelines and data collected should be reliable enough to develop strategies for prevention and control of NCDs.

 

Dr. YK Chawla, Director PGIMER during inaugural function congratulated School of Public Health and participating medical colleges for taking this initiative to assess the risk factors of NCDs. He informed that already PGI Chandigarh has collaborated with the Department of Health, Punjab for introducing drug de-addiction centers in the state. Another survey on Hepatitis C is in the process of initiation in the state of Punjab. This NCD risk survey will provide reliable risk factor data for credible actions and interventions in the state for the control of NCDs.

 

The second day initiated with the recap of first day activities by the participants. The key sessions during the second day included overview of the National NCD programme and NCD surveillance by Dr. Tejinder Bahl, State Nodal Officer (NCD programme), Punjab; linking of risk factors and chronic NCDs, importance of family history and lifestyle advice in prevention and control of NCDs by Dr. Sanjay Jain, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, PGIMER; A practical training on the recording of information and assembling, preparing and use of equipments for measurements was also discussed. Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Professor and Head, Department of Biochemistry, PGIMER covered sampling for biochemical analysis, storage and transportation of the samples. The training will conclude on 12^th October, 2014 and the state-wide survey will be initiated after the training in the third week of October, 2014.