New Delhi: Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Thursday emphasised the need for capacity-building programmes for medical officers to tackle non-communicable diseases at the primary level.
"Capacity building is necessary for medical officers as it provides them with the unique opportunity to assess valuable knowledge and expertise, contributing to their professional development and enhancing their ability to address the challenges posed by non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) effectively," said Bhushan while addressing a webinar for medical officers of district hospitals, community health centres, and primary health centres.
The webinar was attended by more than 700 medical officers from across the country. Bhushan highlighted that as the economic and demographic profile of the country had changed, so had its epidemiological profile leading to a rise in non-communicable diseases. He stressed on the increased role of primary health centres, community health centres, and district hospitals.
"As you work with the community directly, it is important that you have the right information to disseminate to the community large, as well as focus on inducing lifestyle-based changes," said Bhushan. He said that capacity-building programmes are becoming more important in providing medical officers with the right knowledge and tools so they can do their tasks effectively.
Aware of the emerging cases of NAFLD, the webinar aims to foster knowledge exchange, promote collaboration, and raise awareness about non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and its impact on global health among medical officers in the country. "This capacity building programme will have two tracks-the first will include regular webinars, and the second will include a 3-day residential training programme," a senior health ministry official said.
The health ministry launched the national programme for prevention and control of non-communicable disease addressing the growing burden of NCDs in India. The programme aims to promote preventive measures, ensure early detection, and provide effective management of NCDs, improving the overall health and well-being of the population.
Also read: Delay in seeking treatment key reason behind deaths due to acute cardiac events: Study
