Combating Diseases & Accidents

Non-Communicable Diseases

Non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and cervical cancer are now the major cause of death and disability worldwide, according to World Health Organization (WHO, 2005).

TNHSP has identified cardiovascular diseases and cervical cancer as two of the most significant threats to the people of Tamilnadu and launched programmes designed to counter the growing threat they represent.

Cardiovascular Diseases - Awareness and Screening

In countries such as India, the projected death rates from cardiovascular diseases would be much higher than the death rate caused by communicable diseases. In Tamil Nadu, the crude mortality death rate due to CVD is highest in the country, about 360-430/100,000.

Statistics for Tamilnadu, from a survey of people above 30 years of age, indicate that:

• 20 per cent adults have hypertension
• 30 per cent have diabetes mellitus
• 10 per cent have heart disease

In response to this challenge, the TNHSP's programme on prevention and treatment of  cardiovascular diseases seeks to deliver the following:

• Create awareness about cardiovascular diseases and their pre-disposing factors
• Foster lifestyle changes in higher risk groups
• Reinforce the message to sustain such changes through out their lives

Cervical Cancer and Breast Cancer - Awareness and Screening

Tamilnadu Amma Kapitu Thitam for Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and New born Care (CEmONC) Services

Introduction

Analysis of the maternal and infant mortality data revealed that 75% of maternal deaths occured during intra partum and post partum and 25% occured in antepartum. One common issue was that of referral. When the hospital where the pregnant woman accessed for care did not have adequate facilities, she had to be referred to another hospital elsewhere. Covering the distance between two hospitals at such a critical stage could prove fatal, as it was usually the complicated cases that were referred to other hospitals especially in the rural areas. Hence, it was decided to strengthen the obstetric and new born services in the hospitals which led to the creation of the ‘Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care’ Centres.

Establishment of CEmONC Centres

In September 2004, a Government Order was passed to establish CEmONC Centres in the State. During Phase 1, 66 Centres were established (52 project hospitals and 14 tertiary care centres) such that the travel time was reduced to approximately an hour. In Phase 2, 32 Centres were established and in Phase 3, 27 centres were established.

Salient Features of CEmONC Centres

The CEmONC Centre is equipped with both the manpower and the infrastructure required to care for the mother and the new born. Round the clock, the centre has Obstetricians, Paediatricians, Doctors, Staff Nurses, lab technicians, and support staff on duty and Anesthetists on call.

Intensive inputs were provided, in terms of training and physical infrastructure, to ensure quality care.