Date:03/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/03/stories/2008120353210300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Hypertension cases high in rural areas

MADURAI: A pilot project supported by the World Bank for prevention of cardiovascular diseases has revealed that people in rural areas are also getting increasingly prone to hypertension and resultant heart problems.

“Hypertension cases are pretty high than what was expected among people in the age of 30 years and above. We will come out with evidence-based recommendations citing studies in Virudhunagar and Sivaganga districts,” Michael M. Engelgau, World Bank Senior Public Health Specialist looking after South Asia Region, said here.

The pilot project in these two districts is being implemented for the past two years along with the Health Department/Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project at various government hospitals and primary health centres.

Mr. Engelgau said that ‘treatment clinics’ had been established in government hospitals for risk reduction and create awareness at community level, work places and among school children.

Leads to other ailments

According to him, the World Bank project had facilitated to devise a programme for improving treatment of hypertension which is a major cause for strokes, heart attacks and kidney problems.

“We are providing support for medication and human resources (counsellors). Lifestyle modification is an urgent call since the cases are high, starting from people in their 30s,” he pointed out.

Consuming diet with high salt, physical inactivity, obesity, smoking and alcohol are among the major risk factors causing hypertension and cardiovascular disorders.

Evaluation

The World Bank consultant was here to evaluate the implementation of prevention programmes in both Virudhunagar and Sivaganga districts.

He indicated that the evaluation report would suggest extending a similar project for other districts in Tamil Nadu and incorporating hypertension treatment in regular health schemes of the Government.

On Monday, Mr. Engelgau, along with health officials, visited the government hospitals in Manamadurai and Tirupattur besides several rural places such as Muthupattinam, Shanmuganathapuram and Thirukoshtiyur.

The spot assessment on Tuesday was carried out at the government hospitals in Srivilliputtur and Sivakasi, besides a meeting with cement factory workers at Alangulam.

“If a person is detected with hypertension, it is the time when damage starts occurring in the body. So, a comprehensive risk reduction programme is essential,” he said.

P. Palanikumar, Health Systems Project Officer, Madurai district, said that the World Bank official would visit Theni district also to study cervical cancer cases.