Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, Minister of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India, launched ‘Niramaya’, a quarterly e-newsletter on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in India on 27 February 2014.
The newsletter is an initiative of MoHFW, the World Health Organization Country Office for India, and is produced by the Public Health Foundation of India.
‘Niramaya’ is a Sanskrit word which means healthy, wholesome and freedom from illnesses.
In his message, Mr Azad said, “I am happy that a newsletter on NCDs is being launched by the MoHFW in coordination with WHO and civil society. This letter will provide an excellent platform for documenting progress and initiatives in NCDs. In addition to providing an update on policy initiatives, the newsletter can also emerge as an instrument to bring together all stakeholders working in this field.”
Speaking about the importance of the newsletter, Dr Nata Menabde, WHO Representative to India, said, “NCDs are emerging as the leading cause of death in India accounting for over 53% of all deaths. Half of those who die of chronic NCDs are in the prime of their productive years. Prevention is the key to reducing the NCD burden in India. The newsletter is another step in this direction.”
“It provides a platform for exchanging knowledge on NCDs as well as sharing national and international best practices,” she added.
The first edition of the newsletter focuses on the Indian government’s response to NCDs, adoption of national targets to reduce the burden of NCDs and developments at the grassroots level.
NCDs are major contributors of rising morbidity and mortality patterns worldwide. In India, NCDs have overtaken communicable diseases as the most common causes of morbidity and premature mortality.
It is noteworthy that India is the first country to have developed its national targets based on the global NCD Monitoring Plan developed by WHO.