Over 300 Tihar Jail inmates screened for health issues

Over 300 inmates -- all above the age of 60 years -- were screened for health issues during a day-long medical camp held here in the Tihar Central Jail on Thursday.

There is a rise in cases of hypertension, stress and heart related issues among the inmates living in the prison for nearly a decade.

"Most of the inmates have been here for over a decade. This seclusion and stress has caused hypertension and weakened heart valves in some of them," said P.K. Bhardwaj, Medical Director of Saroj Super Speciality Hospital.

"These things affect one's metabolism and, therefore, such health irregularities are expected to happen, for which medication and exercises have been prescribed," he added.

Doctors from various specialties like ENT, surgery and orthopaedics and specialised doctors from cardiology, gastroenterology, neurology and nephrology participated in the camp.

The medical camp was held between 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for inmates of Central Jail number 3. The camp was organised by Saroj Super Specialty Hospital in collaboration with the jail authorities.

According to the hospital authorties, many of the patients were suffering from chronic illness and were consulted to all the specialists and underwent ECG, blood pressure, Body Mass Index (BMI) and Random Blood Sugar (RBS) screening.

--IANS

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