HT Correspondent
HOJAI, March 16: Inadequate awareness and attention about potential health problems that can be treated or prevented is adversely affecting the people in Hojai, according to a study.
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Guwahati-based multi-specialty hospital chain, GNRC Hospitals, presented the study to the reporters here by analyzing data from records of last 23 years maintained by GNRC and various other publicly available sources in a press conference held at the conference hall of Rabindranath Tagore University in Hojai on Thursday afternoon.
According to the study 1,73,863 persons (approx. 25% of the population) are affected by hypertension and 63,253 people are having high blood sugar in Hojai. The study further reveals that every year, 1443 (estimated) people in Hojai suffer from stroke; 49,725 people are affected by heart ailments and 7235 people suffer from epilepsy. It is noteworthy to mention here that 96% of the epilepsy cases remain untreated for various reasons.
Moreover, 68,253 people are suffering from chronic kidney disease in Hojai. On trauma, GNRC’s study quoted a National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report which stated that approximately 62 deaths and 3014 deaths occurred in Hojai and Assam respectively in 2021 due to road traffic accidents.
The study further reveals that stroke and other neurological conditions affected 5012 elderly people in Hojai. While 35,227 elderly people are estimated to suffer from hypertension and other cardiac conditions; 47,947 elderly people are estimated to suffer from musculoskeletal, arthritis & locomotion disorders, 9235 elderly people are estimated to suffer from chronic kidney disease. The figures for diabetes stood at 12,576, while the figure for cancer stood at 11,127 respectively.
The study then focused upon infectious diseases. Poor sanitation, lack of clear drinking water and poor hygiene are the main reasons for which India sees approximately 33% people suffering from one or the other infectious disease. Hojai alone have approximately more than 3,00,000 people suffering from various infectious diseases. Air pollution, under nutrition and certain risks causing cardiovascular diseases and diabetes causes plenty of health loss in India every year.
Speaking on the occasion, GNRC and Affordable Health Mission’s founder chairman and an eminent neurologist of India Dr. Nomal Chandra Borah, said: “Even 75 years after independence, we are yet to sufficiently address the suffering of our people, when it comes to healthcare. He added: “We all know that health is wealth. The corollary is that lack of health adversely affects not only the population’s physical well- being but also its mental, social and economic well-being. A healthy population is also one that is energetic, one that contributes to and drives the economy. So, as conscionable members of society, it is our responsibility to relentlessly endeavour to progress in the direction of ‘Health for All, Smiles for All’. We, at GNRC, have adopted this as our guiding principle.”
Dr Borah shared the importance of widespread awareness of preventive healthcare and access to quality, affordable healthcare, in order to reach GNRC’s goal. To pursue this cause, GNRC launched the Affordable Health Mission in August 2017. And this mission is making greater strides in the recent times. GNRC has been able to serve 37,106 patients from Hojai since its inception. Moreover, free treatment under ‘First 24 Hours Free Emergency Scheme’ has been extended to 1280 patients and 786 patients from Hojai have availed free CT Scan services. On this occasion, we must appreciate the significant work done by the state and central government to uplift the healthcare scenario in Assam and India. Under the flagship government programmes ‘Atal Amrit Abhiyan’ and ‘Ayushman Bharat PMJAY’ we have been able to serve more than 700 Hojai patients at GNRC.
About 60-70% of the diseases can be prevented. Early diagnosis and treatment result in better outcome and less suffering to the patients and family as well as lesser economic burden to the family and the healthcare system. For that, creating healthcare awareness is of utmost importance and GNRC is trying to achieve that with its Affordable Health Mission. The Swasthyamitras are working relentlessly to create healthcare awareness among all sections of the society.
GNRC’s executive director Dr Madhurjya Borah along with Head of Swasthyamitra Project Mr Abhijeet Bhattacharjee was also present on the occasion. Requesting the media to support the healthcare providers’ mission, Dr. Borah stated that the primary cause of lack of treatment or inadequate attention to prevention was lack of awareness.
