Brahma Kumaris Centres supporting Pilot Study of NPCDCS – Ayush Project at two selected districts

Brahma Kumaris Centres supporting National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke in Pilot Study of NPCDCS – Ayush Project of Govt. of India at Bhilwara (Rajasthan) and Surendranagar (Gujarat)

India is experiencing a rapid health transition with a rising burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) like Cardiovascular diseases, Cancer, Chronic Respiratory Diseases, Diabetes and other that are estimated to account for around 60% of all deaths, thus making them the leading causes of death.

NCDs cause considerable loss in potentially productive years of life. Losses due to premature deaths related to heart diseases, stroke and Diabetes are also projected to increase over the years. In order to prevent and control major NCDs, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare had launched the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) in 2010.

As a part of the new initiatives, a pilot project ‘Integration of Homoeopathy/Yoga with National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases & Stroke (NPCDCS) in Krishna District’ was launched last year in February, 2016. The NPCDCS is a programme of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and its integration with AYUSH is one of the mandates of NPCDCS programme.

Under the Pilot Project, AYUSH facilities and methodologies are being integrated with NPCDCS services for prevention and management of common NCDs. Yoga as an intervention is being encouraged as an integral part of NCD prevention and management.

AYUSH with NPCDCS facilities in some districts have been visited and assessed by joint teams to identify pilot districts for NPCDCS-AYUSH integration activities.

The selected six districts are Darjeeling (West Bengal) and Krishna (Andhra Pradesh) for Homeopathy; Gaya (Bihar), Bhilwara (Rajasthan) and Surendranagar (Gujarat) for Ayurveda; and Lakhimpur Kheri (Uttar Pradesh) for Unani.

Medical Wing, Raja Yoga Education & Research Foundation has been entrusted to support two Districts out of the above mentioned six districts – Bhilwara in Rajasthan and Surendranagar in Gujarat wherein Rajayogi lifestyle training is imparted to the patients with risk factors of NCD at Brahma Kumaris Centres – Dhangadhra and Brahma Kumaris Centre – Wadhwan at Surendranagar.