Bengaluru: After nearly six months since the statewide launch of the ‘Gruha Arogya: Healthcare at your doorstep’ scheme, aimed at diagnosis and treatment of non-communicable diseases, Haveri district has the dubious distinction of topping the state for hypertension and anemia.
Dakshina Kannada tops the charts for diabetes, with 34% of the population diagnosed with the disease.
In Haveri, 43.5% of the screened population has tested positive for hypertension, 31.9% for diabetes and 11.7% for anemia. Dakshina Kannada has reported 21% of the people with hypertension and 0.6% with anemia.
Dr Raghunandan, deputy director for non-communicable diseases, told DH that people were responding well to the scheme and it had helped in early detection of a large number of cases.
According to data by the health department, only 3.52% and 2.7% have tested positive for hypertension and diabetes and 1.5% for anemia. Anemia is tested for people in the 19-29 age group. In Bengaluru city, 28.5% and 22% of the people are diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes, respectively.
The Gruha Arogya initiative covers 14 types of health issues for people over the age of 30 including hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney diseases, anemia, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obstructive sleep apnea, mental health, neurological conditions, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic foot and three types of cancer including oral, breast and cervical.
For oral cancer, ASHA workers across the state have been given a target of 1,67,70,495 and 7% of the target (11,92,436) have been screened. Out of this, 0.28% (3,403) have been referred to hospitals.
The breast and cervical cancer target has been set at 81,68,645, and 5,38,688 people have been screened for breast cancer. A total of 1,311 have people have been referred to hospitals.
A total of 3,85,714 have been screened for cervical cancer and 950 have been referred for treatment.
“People are becoming more aware of these diseases and they are able to get themselves checked routinely,” Dr Raghunandan said.
The ASHA workers also keep a check on mental health by asking a set of questions and suspected cases are linked to government psychiatrists and telemanas, a national free tele-mental health assistance, he said.