The Centre for Chronic Disease Control (CCDC) has successfully conducted screenings for high blood pressure (BP) on over 1.1 million individuals in India as part of the May Measurement Month (MMM) initiative launched in 2017. Serving as MMM’s official Indian partner, CCDC participated in a global effort that has screened more than 6 million individuals across over 100 countries.
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) contribute to nearly 63% of deaths in India, with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) accounting for 27% of these cases. High blood pressure is a significant risk factor for CVDs. Through MMM and other ongoing programs, CCDC aims to educate and empower the public to manage and prevent this chronic condition.
On World Hypertension Day (May 17), CCDC collaborated with IAPEN India to organize health camps, lectures, and training sessions in cities across NCR, Maharashtra, Punjab, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha. These initiatives focused on raising awareness about hypertension, promoting regular BP monitoring, and educating participants on adopting healthy lifestyles to manage high BP.
As reported by Economic Times, Prof. D. Prabhakaran, Executive Director of CCDC, emphasized the importance of managing high BP in preventing heart attacks and strokes. He expressed pride in CCDC’s achievement of screening over 1.1 million individuals through seven editions of MMM, highlighting the organization’s commitment to enhancing heart health and reducing the burden of cardiovascular diseases nationwide.
MMM, initiated by the International Society of Hypertension, encourages regular BP checks among adults aged 18 and above. It provides dietary and lifestyle recommendations for individuals with high BP and advocates for improved BP screening facilities globally to combat the global impact of untreated hypertension.