World Health Day this year, falling on April 7, will be observed with the theme, Beat Diabetes, as the non-communicable disease is directly impacting a large number of people world-wide, mostly in the low and middle-income group countries, and its incidence is steadily increasing.
As part of the efforts, seven Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) centres have been established in Visakhapatnam district to provide care to people affected by diabetes. The centres also screen women for breast cancer, DMHO J. Sarojini told presspersons here. Each NCD centre will have a medical officer and a physiotherapist. The centres have been established at Bheemunipatnam, Gopalapatnam, Chodavaram, Elamanchili, G. Madugula, Chintapalli and Munchingput. Doctors and staff have been appointed to all the NCDs, except at Chintapalli and Munchingput, and efforts were on to recruit medical officers and others soon, she said.
104 vehicles
Meanwhile, diabetes treatment is being provided through fixed day service 104 vehicles, which are now brought under the PPP mode. Four vehicles have been handed over to Piramal Swastha after completing repairs, and 20 will be handed over later. The agency on its own will engage a medical officer and nurse and is providing some equipment, while the government provides a pharmacist, driver and security guard.
