Healthy life style helps prevent NCDs - Health Minister
Nadira Gunatilleke
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Laboratory services Deputy Director General Dr. Gamini
Samarasinghe presenting an awareness raising poster to
Health Minister Sirisena while Ministry officials look on. |
"Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are on the rise in Sri Lanka and
oral cancer has become one of the leading killers. Around 86 percent of
oral cancer patients get it through smoking and chewing betel," Health
Minister Maithripala Sirisena said.
According to Minister Sirisena, there are around 1.200 births and
1,000 deaths in Sri Lanka daily. Around 60 percent of those deaths occur
due to NCDs and related health complications. Heart diseases,
respiratory diseases, diabetes and cancer are the more common NCDs. It
has now been scientifically proved that chewing betel causes oral
cancers and cancers in the liver.
Minister Sirisena pointed out that NCDs can be prevented by
practicing a healthy life style with healthy food habits, regular
exercise and refraining from smoking and use of alcohol. The Health
Ministry has made arrangements to offer free Blood Pressure and Body
Mass Index monitoring for the public to mark the National Health Week.
Arrangements have also been made to educate the public on nutrition etc.
The programme will be held at the Fort Railway Station. |
