World Hypertension Day: Silchar Civil Hospital launches month-long screening drive to combat ‘silent killer’

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 19, 2025

S.M. Dev Civil Hospital in Silchar marked World Hypertension Day on Saturday with the launch of a month-long screening and awareness campaign, part of a state-wide initiative under the National Health Mission (NHM). The campaign, running from May 17 to June 16 aims to promote early detection of hypertension and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across all health facilities in Assam.

The event began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by Dr. Shibananda Roy, Joint Director of Health Services, Cachar. Calling hypertension a “silent killer,” Dr. Roy stressed the importance of early intervention, public engagement, and lifestyle changes to reduce the long-term burden of cardiovascular diseases.

“This is a call for collective action. Early screening, public education, and adoption of healthy habits can go a long way in reducing the burden of hypertension,” Dr. Roy said.

The program drew participation from key healthcare leaders, including Dr. Ratna Chakraborty, District Tuberculosis Control Officer; Dr. Rohan Biswas, Nodal Officer, National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE); Dr. Madhumita Bhattacharya, In-Charge, NCD Cell and Piyali Chakraborty, NCD Programme Coordinator.

All highlighted the campaign’s role in empowering the public with actionable health knowledge and greater access to preventive care.

As part of the observance, on-the-spot hypertension screening was conducted for patients and healthcare workers. The district’s NCD Cell will now spearhead systematic screening drives at various health facilities throughout the campaign period.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular disease is the leading global cause of death, with hypertension being a key risk factor. In India, it contributes to nearly one-third of annual deaths. The National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) places the national prevalence of hypertension at 22.6%, with Assam slightly lower at 19.7%.