Siddaramaiah launches 'Gruha Arogya' initiative
Bengaluru, Oct 24: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday launched the "Gruha Arogya": "Healthcare at Your Doorstep" initiative here, aimed at providing free health check-ups and treatment to citizens at their homes.
This scheme, a flagship program of the Department of Health and Family Welfare for the control and management of non-communicable diseases seeks to reach underprivileged sections and ensure timely detection of diseases, officials said.
The program has been launched for Kolar district initially and subsequently the scheme shall be scaled up to include all districts after two months, officials said.
According to the Health Department, a total budget of Rs 92.75 crore has been earmarked for this program by Karnataka government.
The burden of non-communicable diseases in India is significant and is on the rise leading to significant mortality and morbidity.
Approximately 63 per cent of all deaths in India are due to non-communicable diseases.
"Gruha Arogya" scheme has been launched in Karnataka as a preventive measure to reduce incidence of complications and premature mortality due to non-communicable diseases.
Sharing his personal experience, the Chief Minister said, "I have been managing diabetes for the past 30 years with regular exercise and a disciplined lifestyle. It is possible to control the condition with proper care."
He also noted that it had been 24 years since he underwent a stent procedure, and he continues to actively engage in party and government activities while following medical advice.
Underscoring the importance of early diagnosis, he said, "Health issues should not be concealed."
"Many people, especially from economically weaker sections, cannot afford to visit hospitals. This initiative will ensure health services reach their doorstep."
He observed that several people avoid health screenings due to financial constraints, leading to undetected diseases.
"Our aim is to ensure every household is covered through these door-to-door health check-ups. Early detection of conditions like cancer improves treatment outcomes, while diseases such as diabetes and hypertension can be effectively managed with lifestyle changes," the CM said.
Addressing the misconceptions about diet and diabetes, he said, "there is a myth that consuming eggs, fish, or meat worsens diabetes. Balanced nutrition is key, and eliminating certain foods is not the solution."
He said that stress and increased consumption of chemically-treated food have contributed to rising health issues.
Health Minister Dinesh Gundurao said that this is a visionary project and will play an important role in saving the lives of people in rural areas.
Stating that 26.9 per cent of the people in the state are suffering from high blood pressure and 15.6 per cent are suffering from diabetes, he said that the main aim of the scheme is to prevent death and health complications caused by it.
"Also 11.5 per cent people are suffering from oral cancer in the state; 26 per cent of people are suffering from breast cancer and 18.3 per cent are cases of cervical cancer...The scheme is not just about checking people's blood pressure, diabetes and supplying medicine... In the long run, people can be protected from life-threatening diseases like kidney failure, heart attacks, strokes caused by these non-communicable diseases," he said.
According to health department, As part of the scheme, teams comprising Community Health Officers, Primary Health Care Officers, Health Inspecting Officers, ASHAs shall carry out door to door visits in their Ayushman Arogya Mandir area for screening of major non-communicable diseases including diabetes, hypertension and three common cancers namely oral cancer, breast and cervical cancer (aimed at women) for individuals aged 30 years of age and above.
Screening shall be done on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays until all houses are covered. Apart from this screening for signs and symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Mental Health Conditions will also be done. Counseling on lifestyle modification measures to prevent and control non-communicable diseases will be given to all individuals by the teams, it stated.
"Individuals who are suffering from Diabetes and Hypertension shall be provided requisite medicines free of cost during the screening visits. Additionally, provision will be made to provide medicines for treatment of Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) for senior citizens, specially abled patients and patients who are on palliative care on a regular basis," the health department said in a statement.
Monthly camps will be conducted at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs on fixed days where follow up of identified patients suffering from NCDs will be conducted by a Medical Officer, it stated.
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UP Police use tear gas to disperse crowd throwing stones during Sambhal mosque survey
Sambhal (UP) (PTI): Police used tear gas and "minor force" in the face of stone pelting by locals here on Sunday as tension escalated during a second survey of the Mughal-era mosque, claimed to be originally the site of an ancient Hindu temple.
Tension has been seething in Sambhal over the past few days after the Jama Masjid was surveyed last Tuesday on the orders of a local court following a petition that claimed that a Harihar temple stood at the site.
According to the local administration, a second survey by an "Advocate Commissioner" as part of a court-ordered examination into the disputed site began around 7 am and a crowd began gathering at the spot.
"Some miscreants came out of the crowd gathered near the site and pelted stones at the police team. The police used minor force and tear gas to bring the situation under control," Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar Vishnoi said.
He said those who engaged in stone pelting and those who incited them will be identified and action taken against them.
District Magistrate Rajendra Pesia said, "Some miscreants resorted to stone pelting but the situation is peaceful now and the survey is underway."
Videos of youths throwing stones at police, purportedly near the site of the survey in Sambhal have surfaced on the Internet.
Supreme Court lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain, who is also the petitioner in the case, had said the Court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) ordered the constitution of an "Advocate Commission" to survey the mosque.
The court has said that a report should be filed after conducting a videography and photography survey through the commission, he had said.
The Central and Uttar Pradesh governments, the mosque committee and the district magistrate of Sambhal have been made parties in the petition concerning the mosque, Jain said last Tuesday.
Vishnu Shankar Jain and his father Hari Shankar Jain have represented the Hindu side in many cases related to places of worship, including the Gyanvapi Mosque-Kashi Vishwanath temple dispute.
Gopal Sharma, a local lawyer for the Hindu side, told PTI on Friday that in his petition filed in the court, he mentioned that "Baburnama" and the "Ain-e-Akbari" has confirmed that a Harihar temple was at the site where the Jama Masjid now stands.
He also claimed that the temple was demolished by Mughal Emperor Babur in 1529.
Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq had objected to the developments.
"The Jama Masjid of Sambhal is historical and very old. The Supreme Court had given the order in 1991 that whatever religious places are there in whatever condition since 1947, they will remain at their places," he had said.
The next date for hearing in this case is January 29.
VIDEO | Uttar Pradesh: Stones and slippers pelted in Sambhal when a survey team reached Shahi Jama Masjid to conduct a survey of the mosque.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 24, 2024
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7)#SambhalJamaMasjid pic.twitter.com/K4QGGpzlMK
