Hindu Editorial Analysis : 27-October-2023

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), chronic ailments of long duration, are plaguing Indian cities. The Health Ministry has identified four major NCDs: cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes. These diseases are primarily caused by unhealthy lifestyles, including physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol consumption.

Urban Challenges and Health Risks

Urban India faces a myriad of health risks:

  • Pollution: India witnesses some of the world’s highest levels of air and noise pollution.
  • Limited Green Spaces: Lack of parks and sidewalks restricts active lifestyles.
  • Unhealthy Diets: Easy access to nutritionally deficient foods worsens the problem.
  • Dysfunctional Provisioning Systems: Core systems like food, energy, housing, and water are dysfunctional in many Indian cities, leading to health disparities and premature deaths.
Socio-Spatial-Political Challenges

The urban provisioning systems, often remnants of a colonial past, exacerbate social inequalities. This socio-spatial-political design leads to significant disparities in health risks and outcomes among different sections of the population.

Impact on Health, Families, and Communities

The impact of NCDs is profound:

  • Health Risks: NCDs increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes, especially when combined with physical inactivity.
  • Socioeconomic Costs: Apart from the loss of lives, NCDs impose heavy economic costs, affecting individuals, families, communities, and economies at large.
Policy Suggestions and Government Initiatives

Addressing this crisis requires a multi-faceted approach:

  • Focus on Cities: Prioritize urban health in policy frameworks like the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda.
  • Holistic Approach: Improve provisioning systems comprehensively, including energy, food, mobility, and green infrastructure.
  • Promoting Physical Activity: Encourage physical activity through safe walking and biking lanes, reducing sedentary lifestyles, and mitigating air pollution.
  • Dietary Policies: Implement policies promoting fresh foods and limiting sugars and salt, improving both health outcomes and economic productivity.
Government Initiatives: Towards a Healthier India

The Indian government has taken steps to combat NCDs:

  • National Health Mission: Programs like NPCDCS under NHM focus on prevention, early diagnosis, and management of NCDs.
  • Ayushman Bharat Health Wellness Centre: Promotes wellness activities and healthy lifestyles at the community level.
  • Public Awareness: Initiatives like National & International Health Days and use of media raise awareness.
  • Population-Based Screening: New initiatives aim to conduct screenings and create a registry of NCD patients for better healthcare planning.
Why In News

The cities of India are amidst an epidemic of historic proportions in non-communicable diseases (NCD), posing a significant challenge to public health infrastructure; urgent action and comprehensive strategies are essential to curb this alarming trend.

MCQs about Crisis of Non-Communicable Diseases in Urban India

  1. What are the major driving factors for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in India?
    A) Genetic predisposition
    B) Lack of education
    C) Unhealthy behaviors like physical inactivity and poor diet
    D) Infectious diseases
    Correct Answer: C) Unhealthy behaviors like physical inactivity and poor diet
    Explanation: The NCDs in India are primarily driven by behaviors such as physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, tobacco use, and alcohol consumption.
  2. What is the impact of dysfunctional provisioning systems on urban health in India?
    A) They have no impact on health outcomes
    B) They exacerbate social inequalities and lead to varying health risks
    C) They only affect individuals from lower-income backgrounds
    D) They improve overall public health
    Correct Answer: B) They exacerbate social inequalities and lead to varying health risks
    Explanation: Dysfunctional provisioning systems in Indian cities worsen social inequalities and result in varying health risks and outcomes among different population groups.
  3. Which government initiative aims to create a registry of NCD patients in Indian states?
    A) Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
    B) Ayushman Bharat Health Wellness Centre scheme
    C) National Health Mission (NHM)
    D) Make in India campaign
    Correct Answer: C) National Health Mission (NHM)
    Explanation: The NHM is implementing a new initiative to conduct population-based screening for NCDs and create a Statewide community registry of patients above 30 years with NCDs.
  4. What is the primary focus of suggested policies to combat the NCD epidemic in Indian cities?
    A) Encouraging tobacco use
    B) Promoting sedentary lifestyles
    C) Implementing a holistic approach addressing provisioning systems and promoting physical activity
    D) Ignoring public awareness campaigns
    Correct Answer: C) Implementing a holistic approach addressing provisioning systems and promoting physical activity
    Explanation: A holistic approach involving changes in provisioning systems (energy, food, mobility, green infrastructure) and promoting physical activity to combat the NCD epidemic in Indian cities.

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