Context
According to the World Health Organization, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have become the major cause of death in the world.
Key Highlights
- They cause almost three-fourths of deaths in the world, with more than 60 percent of deaths attributed to NCDs in India.
- School nutrition and walkable cities are just some examples of urban policy interventions that can greatly mitigate this burden, according to experts.
About Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)
- The major NCDs include:
- Heart attack and strokes (cardiovascular diseases).
- Cancers
- Chronic respiratory diseases
- Diabetes
- They are no longer diseases of the rich and are spreading more and more to the low- and middle-income economies such as India.
Role of Cities in Disease Prevention
- Cities are essential as they:
- More than half of the world population already resides in cities, which is likely to increase to 70 percent by 2050.
- Local governments are able to initiate specific and quicker actions.
- Efficient public health planning and monitoring are possible with decentralised governance.
Significance of School-Based Interventions
- Schools can influence early eating habits by:
- Nutritious mid-day meals
- Limiting junk food and sweet beverages.
- Awareness campaigns such as sugar boards.
- International evidence demonstrates that school food policy efforts result in better health in the future by eliminating unhealthy foods in schools.
Need for Safe Walking and Cycling Infrastructure
- Lack of safe infrastructure discourages physical activity.
- The design of urban spaces is poor and leads to:
- Sedentary lifestyles
- Heightened probability of obesity and other illnesses.
- Solutions include:
- Pavements and walking accessible streets.
- Cycling tracks
- Well-developed transport networks.
Policy Measures for Prevention
- A preventive form of public health approach should be adopted by governments, and it includes:
- Increased taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and high-calorie beverages.
- Good food laws and bans on advertising.
- Physical planning and promotion of physical activity.
- Policies should be concerned with environmental change and awareness.
India-Specific Concerns
- Indians are also at a higher risk because they are exposed to NCDs earlier than other communities.
- Urbanisation and the growth of middle-class consumption lead to exposure to:
- Processed foods
- Tobacco and alcohol products.
- Inclusive awareness campaigns should be carried out for all the socio-economic groups.
Challenges
- Poor understanding of risk factors by the general population.
- Violent advertising of unhealthy products.
- City architecture that is not oriented towards active living.
- Disparity in access to healthy foods and places of safety.
Way Forward
- Incorporate health in urban development.
- Enforce better school nutrition policies in the country.
- Encourage community-based awareness programmes.
- Promote multi-sectoral collaboration among health, transport, and urban ministries.
Conclusion
- To prevent NCDs, the current treatment approach should be replaced with prevention, coordinated at the city level.
- Interventions such as healthy school lunch and secure pedestrian facilities can go a long way in minimizing disease burden.
- By acting in time, India will be able to prevent health crises similar to the ones witnessed in most developed countries.
Source: The Indian Express
Mains PYQ
(Q) Can overuse and free availability of antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription contribute to the emergence of drug-resistant diseases in India? What are the available mechanisms for monitoring and control? Critically discuss the various issues involved. (2014)
- In India and in the rest of the world, NCDs contribute to most of the deaths.
- One of the leading causes of increased health risks is urban lifestyles.
- Schools and cities are highly instrumental in prevention.
- The policy needs to concentrate on diet, exercise, and control.
- Long-term benefits of social health can be guaranteed by early intervention.
.png)
