Hesitancy to seek treatment a cause for concern, finds SHRC

June 10, 2022 49 Views No Comment

Our Correspondent
Kohima | June 10

Lack of awareness on personal health, delay in health seeking behaviour, poor health seeking behaviour or hesitancy for health check-up and discontinuation of treatment were some of the major findings of the Social Health Responsibility Campaign (SHRC) which was conducted in Kohima in March-April this year.

This was shared by Kohima Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Vezokholu Theyo during a programme to review the campaign, which was held at De Oriental Grand, Kohima today. The event was held in the presence of Amardeep Singh Bhatia, Principal Secretary, Health & Family Welfare (H&FW), Nagaland and H&FW Principal Director, Dr K Vikato Kinimi as special guests.

SHRC is an initiative of Chief Medical Office (CMO), Kohima in collaboration with district administration and Association of Kohima Municipal Wards Panchayat (AKMWP) under the theme ‘Leave no one’s health behind: invest in health systems for all.’

Dr Theyo said that the campaign found irregular medication, lack of knowledge on facilities provided by the government, non disclosure of health status by the respondents during survey, late initiation of household survey in few areas and inadequate training for surveyor and colony stakeholders.

According to the findings, there is need to focus on awareness generation and to address misconception relating to government health facilities and providers, personal health/lifestyle etc.

Other areas included; provision of affordable & better access to health care, availability of drugs and consumables at the health units, regular supply of drugs and consumables.

It was also felt that there is need to strengthen referral linkages and focus on quality training for health providers.

The campaign was conducted in 19 wards of Kohima town in the month of March-April this year through screening of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) in an effort to provide healthcare and treatment to the local populace against commonly-occurring ailments.

The campaign also aimed to reduce risk, morbidity and mortality due to hypertension and diabetes.

It aimed to identify co-morbid disease prevalence in the community and to protect the co-morbid group of people from COVID death, should another wave occur as the maximum number of COVID deaths were people with co-morbidities and maximum number of COVID deaths occurred in urban area during the 1st and 2nd waves.

During the campaign, many inhabitants were screened for non-communicable diseases, co-morbid disorders, and free medications were provided through the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM).

The campaign surveyed 9,243 households across Kohima and identified 15,100 target population (30 years and above).

Kohima CMO, Dr Vezokholu Theyo informed that 54 sessions have been conducted, involving 17 medical officers and 258 health workers. Mapping of co-morbid diseases prevalence in the community was conducted in 9243 houses.

Dr Theyo informed that 2,429 people have availed free consultation, medicines and diagnostic services.

Way forward
The campaign meanwhile suggested that follow up services may be undertaken by Sub Centres & Urban Primary Health Centres through outreach and Urban Health Nutrition Day. Monthly target of 10-15 follow-up home visits may be set for the Auxiliary Nurse Midwifery, it suggested.

Existing co-morbid disease survey record may be utilized during the visit as beneficiary demographics are already captured, it added.

It further stated that Community Based Assessment Checklist/ Non Communicable Disease app entry be made mandatory and incentivization may be considered for the health workers. Additional NCD tablet should also be made available for each ANM to ease data entry (presently only 1 Tab/Health Unit is available), the campaign added.

Other suggestions included free investigation & medicine refill for follow up clients; one set of Glucometer to be made available to all ANMs; and further research in high disease prevalence area to identify cause and effect.

Source: https://morungexpress.com/hesitancy-to-seek-treatment-a-cause-for-concern-finds-shrc