Centre launches NPCDCS project

AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik said integration of AYUSH can act as a catalyst to operationalise the project's objectives

The Centre today launched a pilot project which integrates homoeopathy and yoga with a national programme for prevention and control of diseases like cancer and diabetes.

AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik launched the 'Integration of Homoeopathy and Yoga with National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke' (NPCDCS) under the Health Ministry in Krishna district near Amaravathi in Andhra Pradesh.

"About 5.8 million Indians die from heart and lung diseases, cancer and diabetes which means one out of every four Indians runs the risk of dying from one of these diseases before they reach the age of 70," Naik said. 

"People become vulnerable to these diseases due to smoking, physical inactivity, drinking alcohol, mental stress among others. AYUSH system of medicine has a great potential to contribute towards improvement in the healthcare delivery system. Homoeopathy is the most accepted healthcare system after modern and Ayurveda medicine in India," Naik added.

Noting that NPCDCS was launched to promote health and to control these diseases, Naik said integration of AYUSH can act as a catalyst to operationalise its objectives.

He also stressed on the importance of generating awareness among children and youth in schools and colleges for long-term prevention of these diseases.

To integrate NPCDCS and AYUSH, services of homoeopathic doctors and yoga experts in Krishna (Andhra Pradesh) and Darjeeling (West Bengal) districts will be utilised.

The programme aims to aid in reduction of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) burden by an integrated approach of health education which include promotion of healthier lifestyle including yoga, timely screening of population for early detection or diagnosis of NCDs and their early management through homoeopathic treatment.

Eight community health centres at Machilipantam, Nandigama, Tiruvuru, Vissannapeta, Nuzvidu, Challapalli, Vuyyuru, Avanigadda were made functional through the pilot project.

Training manual for yoga instructors, volunteers and multi-task workers in Telegu was also released. Naik also launched a lifestyle clinic at regional research institute (Homoeopathy) at Gudivada where he interacted with the patients.