Displacement process can make people more vulnerable to CVD: Dr Sushil

HoD Cardiology GMC Jammu Dr Sushil Sharma inaugurating health camp in RS Pura on Sunday.
HoD Cardiology GMC Jammu Dr Sushil Sharma inaugurating health camp in RS Pura on Sunday.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 15: Highlighting the need to understand the relationship between migration and health, Dr. Sushil Sharma HoD Cardiology GMC Jammu today conducted health awareness cum check up at village Keshav Nagar, Railway Patri, RS Pura. It is worthwhile to mention that a significant population who attended the camp belong to PoJK displaced community.
Realising the background of attendees, Dr. Sushil stated that migration places individuals in situations which may impact their physical and mental well being.
“Conditions surrounding the migration process can increase the vulnerability to ill health. A number of studies indicated that migrants suffer significantly more mental health impairment than other groups viz., PTSD, depression, somatisation, and existential dilemmas. Whereas several studies concluded that the experience of displacement as an independent risk factor for Cardio Vascular Diseases. This is particularly true for those who migrate involuntarily, as is the case with PoJK displaced population who faced forced migration at different set of times. Moreover, health risk factors will be compounded by socio-economic and cultural differences in diet, nutrition, health habits, housing, help seeking behaviour and psychological orientations,” Dr Sharma said.
Further elaborating the inter relationship between migration and health outcomes, Dr. Sushil informed that a variety of events and factors can make displaced populations suspected to health risks, and can be categorised as pre-flight, during flight and post-flight phases.
More than 250 individuals were screened, evaluated for Cardiovascular Diseases. Blood Sugar andLipid Profile, HBA1C Levels were Screened besides ECG. Free medicines were also given as per the requirements.
Others who were part of this camp include Dr Dhaneshwar Kapoor and Dr Anitipal Singh, Asstt. Prof( Ortho). Paramedics and Volunteers includes Kamal Sharma, Raghav Rajput , Ranjeet Singh, Aqib Ashraf , Raj Kumar, Gourav Sharma, Amandeep Singh, Rajinder Singh, Maneet, Akshay Kumar and Nitesh.