India Hypertension Management Initiative to reduce blood-pressure

New Delhi, Nov 28, 2017 (UNI) Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) Secretary and Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Tuesday launched the India Hypertension Management Initiative (IHMI) that aims to reduce disability and death related to cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death in India.


The initiative seeks to improve control of high blood pressure (hypertension), cut salt consumption and eliminate artificial trans-fats regarded as leading risk factors for CVD. An estimated 200 million adults in India have high blood pressure, yet control rates for the condition remain low. According to studies, in rural areas in India, only one quarter of people with hypertension are aware of their condition, and only around 10 per cent have their blood pressure controlled. In urban areas, around 40 per cent of people with hypertension are aware of their condition, and just 20 per cent have their blood pressure under control. 

This initiative aims to strengthen the cardiovascular disease component of the government’s National Programme for Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS). It will focus on strengthening hypertension management and monitoring at the primary health care level, within the existing healthcare system, and is aligned with WHO’s Global HEARTS Initiative and national guidelines. IHMI is a collaborative project between ICMR, MoHFW, State Governments, World Health Organization (WHO), and Resolve to Save Lives, an initiative of Vital Strategies. The Union Government has adopted a national action plan for the prevention and control of NCDs with specific targets to be achieved by 2025, including a 25 per cent reduction in overall mortality from CVD, a 25 per cent relative reduction in the prevalence of raised blood pressure and a 30 per cent reduction in salt/sodium intake. 

Read more at http://www.uniindia.com/india-hypertension-management-initiative-to-reduce-blood-pressure-rolled-out/india/news/1060678.html#KchSUmuTzJPFHRQU.99