Health

Non-communicable diseases are increasing at an alarming rate in rural India, with long-term consequences on people’s health and finances. The worrying part is that our healthcare system is ill-equipped to tackle this crisis.

Unbeknown to most of us, the disease pattern in India in general and particularly in rural India has undergone a significant shift over the last 15 years. An early inkling of this change was evident in a 2020-2021 Government of India report on the causes of death in the country.

The report revealed that the deaths in rural India due to communicable diseases (41 percent) were almost matched by those due to NCDs (40 percent). NCDs accounted for 47 percent of all deaths while communicable, maternal, peri-natal and nutritional conditions together accounted for 30 percent. A follow-up study on the causes of death in rural India for the years 2020-21 showed that NCDs accounted for 47 percent of all deaths while communicable, maternal, peri-natal and nutritional conditions together accounted for 30 percent, indicating that NCDs have unquestionably become a healthcare priority.

Certain chronic diseases such as coronary artery disease, strokes, lung diseases and cancers lead to deaths as well as disability; however, there are several NCDs—such as chronic low back pain, mental health and neurological disorders, anaemia, cataracts and hearing loss—that do not cause death but lead to significant disability.

The burden of disease is immense. Due to their chronic nature, the significant disability and premature death, NCDs lead to chronic expenditure on health and, thereby, worsen poverty.  Loss of productivity and purchasing capacity could lead to slowing of economic growth and development. It is estimated that India is likely to lose USD 4.58 trillion before 2030 due to NCDs.

Given the havoc they threaten to wreak on rural lives, it is time that NCDs are addressed on priority. All the stakeholders, including civil society, businesses, academia and policymakers, need to take a serious note of this new health challenge in rural India where a majority of India’s population lives.

But why are NCDs becoming a problem in rural area?

The prime reason is epidemiological transition, which is a shift towards chronic non-communicable diseases along with socio-economic development. Increasing life expectancy and urbanization of lifestyle in rural India have led to this transition.

Keeping the above-mentioned situation in mind, from 5th June 2023, SWAH organized a Health Awareness Camp at Tungi village, where various medical advice and proper living habits were discussed. Even prior to this camp, SWAH organized rural eye checkup camps in Tungi, Majhdia for the villagers.

SWAH shall continue such camps and come up with Rural Health Inquiry Center at Tungi village to provide all necessary health-related information to villagers.