Diabetes on the rise in ‘rice bowl’

= According to a health bulletin released by the government on Sunday, the highest number of people are suffering from diabetes in the district
= Surprisingly, majority of them who are suffering from diabetes are from farming community and daily wage earners
= Achanta, Minister for Labour Pithani Satyanarayana’s native mandal, recorded the highest number of diabetes cases in the district followed by Undi mandal

Eluru: West Godavari district, the rice bowl of the state, has recorded the highest number of diabetes cases, especially from rural areas.

According to a health bulletin released by the state government on Sunday, the highest number of people are suffering from diabetes in the district. Surprisingly, majority of them who are suffering from diabetes are from farming community and daily wage earners. Achanta, Minister for Labour Pithani Satyanarayana’s native mandal, recorded the highest number of diabetes cases in the district followed by Undi mandal, where aquaculture is high.

The state government bulletin did not mention the diabetes-prone people’s percentage in urban areas, which normally may be on high.

The district has satisfactory results in regard to the infant mortality. The infant mortality rate was reduced by 51 per cent according to the bulletin. The infant mortality rate, which was recorded at 4.9 per cent earlier, fell to 2.4 per cent. the neonatal mortality rate also reduced by 42 per cent from 2.6 to 1.5 per cent.

However, the proportion of pregnant women with anemia increased to 33.4 per cent. These cases earlier recorded at 51.4 per cent and it has increased to 84.6 per cent, which is a major concern to the government. However, the district stood in third position in the chart in maternal health domain and child health domain. The district stood in fourth place in sensitive illnesses.

The health bulletin revealed that the district stood in 12th position in the mental health domain. The government was advised to concentrate on this also. It was advised to concentrate on behaviour change communication is the primary recommendation for improvement in mental health; adding support from the community for those who suffered would be further helpful in strengthening mental health.

West Godavari district, which recorded a male population of 19,64,918 and female population of 19,72,048 stood in 10th position in chronic disease domain. The government has to concentrate on the priority domain of mental health and accidents.

A strict vigilance by the government would be beneficial in reducing accidents and domestic violence along with individual efforts. Women need to be provided protection and support to prevent domestic violence. The inter-departmental support in terms of monitoring and surveillance is also needed. It has received recommendations to create awareness and behaviour change communication among the population. It has recommended the capacity building of health professionals in the district. The health bulletin indicators including road traffic accidents, accidental injuries, blindness, domestic violence against women, physical disability.

District Collector K Bhaskar said that mobile medical teams would conduct clinical tests to the diabetes patients in rural areas as the rate of diabetes is on the rise in the villages. He suggested to the people take precautionary measures to control blood glucose levels and take up exercises. He admitted that the diabetes patients’ number is high in Achanta and Undi mandals. He said ‘Palakarimpu’ programme would be started in the district for the health of infants and children.