Chandigarh : Professor Rajesh Kumar, Head, School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh has been awarded Dr. Siddharth N. Shah Epidemiology Oration by Hypertension Society of India. He delivered the oration on “Epidemiology of Non-Communicable Diseases in India: Hypertension, Diabetes and Coronary Artery Disease” in 21st National Conference of Hypertension Society of India held at Ludhiana.
In his oration Dr Kumar informed that about 4 million people die due to Non-Communicable Diseases in India every year. Cardiovascular Diseases have emerged as the leading cause of death in India. About 20 lakh deaths occur every year due to Heart Attack and Stroke. Most of these deaths occur in the 30-70 year age group which is the productive period of life. Poor people are the worst sufferers as death rates due to these diseases are highest in them.
He emphasized that government health services should be re-oriented to tackle the rising epidemic of Non-Communicable Diseases. Social policies that encourage physical activity and consumption of fruits and vegetables should be formulated; and educational, regulatory and fiscal measures are needed for discouraging the use of health harming products such as tobacco, alcohol, and food having higher contents of salt, sugar, and fat. He concluded that with available scientific knowledge about 80% of the deaths due to heart attack, stroke, and diabetes can be prevented.