The Health Ministry yesterday launched the year of prevention from Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) under the direction of Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena.

Improving and optimising human resources for health, infrastructure building, trauma care and prevention and management of lifestyle diseases are some of the thrust areas identified for the State’s health sector when the 12th Plan is implemented.

There would be no scarcity of resources for health sector in the 12th Plan as there was a 322 per cent increase in the allocation for health over the 11th Plan. It was up to the State to ensure that its healthcare moved up a higher level and that the funds were utilised effectively, Principal Secretary (Health), Rajeev Sadanandan, said.

High blood pressure (BP) has become the world’s deadliest diseasecausing risk factor.

Non-communicable diseases like cancer, diabetes and heart disease killed two out of three people in 2010 — a larger share than in 1990, when they were responsible for every second death in the worl

Factors in 2010: diabetes, high blood pressure, tobacco smoking, including second-hand smoking, and alcohol use

The three leading risk factors for global disease burden in 2010 were high blood pressure, tobacco smoking, including second-hand smoking, and alcohol use, while in 1990 the leading risks were childhood underweight, household pollution from sold fuels, and tobacco smoking, including passive smoking.

The National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke has been implemented in four districts of Haryana-Mewat, Ambala, Kurukshetra and Yamunanaga