Dayanand Medical College and Hospital Launches Largest-Ever Outreach Program for Hypertension Control

On the occasion of World Hypertension Day, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMC&H) has initiated the largest cardiovascular disease (CVD) outreach program in the private sector in Ludhiana under the banner of the India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI). The ambitious program, named “Ek (1) ne Bees (20)”, aims to screen 5 lakh people for hypertension.

Under the “Ek (1) ne Bees (20)” initiative, each volunteer is trained to screen 20 individuals for high blood pressure every week. The program has already screened over 1 lakh individuals, leveraging a robust training infrastructure developed by DMC&H. This infrastructure has been instrumental in training medical students, nursing staff, and senior secondary students to spread awareness and identify hypertension.

With a target to engage 2000 volunteers from both urban and rural areas, the initiative aims to extend its reach and impact. The program has garnered support from corporates, schools, NGOs, and other organizations, reflecting a community-wide commitment to improving public health.

Sunil Kant Munjal, President of the DMC&H Management Society, highlighted the commendable involvement of industry, corporates, business houses, and educational institutions. He noted, “The commitment of these entities to improve community health is commendable, and it was evident through their active involvement during the program.”

In a unique approach, the initiative has involved Class XI and XII students, who, under the supervision of doctors, have been trained to identify CVDs and assist in treatment. Encouraged by the success, DMC&H now plans to extend training to guards, security personnel, and support staff across various localities.

Dr. Gurpreet S Wander, Professor of Cardiology and Principal of DMC&H, emphasized the importance of widespread participation to achieve the national goal of 25% hypertension control by 2025, saying, “This wide coverage has been made possible by training commoners like school students. If we have to achieve the 25 by 25, we need more people to impart knowledge and awareness.”

The Government of India, under the IHCI, aims to control CVDs more effectively. Currently, an estimated 20 crore people in India have high blood pressure, but only about 2 crore have it under control. The goal is to increase this to 25% by 2025.

Bipin Gupta, Secretary of the DMC&H Management Society, expressed enthusiasm about the initiative, stating, “We are excited to launch the India Hypertension Control Initiative in Ludhiana, which underscores our commitment to combating cardiovascular diseases at the grassroots level.”

Cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks and strokes, are the leading causes of mortality and morbidity globally and account for one-third of total deaths in India. The increasing rate of CVD-related deaths in low and middle-income countries is a growing concern, with hypertension contributing to an estimated 1.6 million deaths annually in India.

The India Hypertension Control Initiative is a collaborative, five-year effort involving the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), state governments, WHO India, and the NGO Resolve to Save Lives. This multi-partner initiative aims to address the growing challenge of hypertension and improve cardiovascular health nationwide.