The Health Minister Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu held a virtual meeting with experts on the World Hypertension Day, organized by the Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER Chandigarh, Strategic Institute of Public Health Education and Research (SIPHER) and Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI). He extended his support to the Hypertension project of PGI CHD and SIPHER being run in collaboration with Punjab Govt.Mr. Sidhu appreciated the Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh, for carrying out different initiatives for the prevention and management of hypertension in the state of Punjab.Highlighting the key initiatives undertaken by Punjab government to take on the high prevalence of hypertension, Health Minister said that, Under the current cardiovascular health project, Punjab Govt. is working towards the implementation of 5 percent trans-fat regulation at state & district level and also to bring it down to 2 percent trans-fat of total energy intake. There is also a regular Hypertension screening for the general population and of those patients visiting NCD Clinics.Dr. Rakesh Gupta, President, and Director Public Health, SIPHER, informed that, under the project, sensitization workshops for the health department, Food & Drugs Administration, civil society organizations, and research bodies are conducted at the district and state levels. PGIMER and SIPHER are also providing technical assistance for the establishment, monitoring and evaluation of Health and Wellness Centers in Punjab,” he added.
Dr. Om Prakash Bera Country coordinate GHAI, USA emphasized close coordination between PGI Chandigarh and National Programme for prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes Cardiovascular Diseases, and Stroke (NPCDCS) Punjab to reduce morbidity and mortality among the people of Punjab.Underscoring the urgent need for more initiatives to combat hypertension, Dr Sonu Goel Professor, Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGI said, “At a time when the entire country is reeling under the impact of COVID-19, PGI has been leaving no stone unturned to benefit the masses with such novel initiatives. The e-newsletter will not only reach to multiple-level of policymakers but also help the common people to be aware of their cardiovascular health. With such initiatives, PGI has become a leading model for all other healthcare institutes across the country”.Dr. Sandeep Gill, SPO, NPCDCS, Punjab, and other leading cardiologists joined the celebrations to release north India’s first-ever edition of an e-newsletter on cardiovascular health. The inaugural issue of the e-newsletter themed “COVID-19 and Hypertension,”Dr. Sonu Goel devised the e-newsletter, which will be available in both offline and online modes. The e-newsletter accommodates scientific facts from research, ground experience from the implementation of hypertension projects and key policy recommendations from State and National Governments. The inaugural session was followed by a consultation meeting regarding the short course on Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs). Dr. SS Sodhi, Senior Cardiologist, President, IMA, Mohali; Dr. TP Singh, Senior Cardiologist, Max Hospital, Mohali; and Dr. Sreenivas Reddy, Professor, and Head, Dept. of Cardiology, GMCH-32 joined the key consultation and all experts will be in the advisory board for the conceptualization of these courses.