AstraZeneca and Plan India Create Awareness on Non-Communicable Diseases

AstraZeneca – Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), often known as chronic diseases, are caused by a confluence of genetic, physiological, environmental, and behavioral variables, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The four primary categories of NCD are diabetes, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma), and cardiovascular disorders (including heart attacks and stroke). 
 
More than three-quarters of all NCD fatalities worldwide (31.4 million) occur in low- and middle-income countries, where they affect people disproportionately. India is a diversified nation, and several of its states are undergoing a transformation in their epidemiological health. Economic growth brought on by urbanization has increased food consumption, tobacco use, and reduced physical activity as a result.

AstraZeneca

A routine life

A 17-year-old student in class 12 from Sangam Vihar in Delhi is named Divya. She comes from a household of four that consists of her mother, father, and younger sister. Her mother is a domestic helper, while her father is a labourer. She belonged to the younger age groups at risk for NCDs. 
 
Divya enjoys relaxing at home. She doesn’t like exercising outside and doesn’t see why it’s important. She justifies spending most of her time watching her father’s phone as necessary for her academic work. Divya’s mother claims that throughout the lockdown, everything was regular for her and that she even neglected her friends.

Conference at the HIC

Her family members became aware of her danger for NCDs as a result of her weight gain and poor lifestyle. Diya rejected their insistence that they work out at home. 
 
However, Divya’s life altered by November 2021. She learned about the Young Health Programme, AstraZeneca, and the global community investment programme of Plan India. It strives to support young people in dealing with their health issues and enhancing their prospects for a better life in the future. 
 
Divya was first apprehensive to attend the classes when the programme was first introduced to her by her family. She kept ignoring the invitations even though they were online. She chose to attempt it, nonetheless, after receiving encouragement from her family and friends. 
 
She learned about the dangers of NCDs and the need for precautions during the first session. She also had the opportunity to take part in Zumba classes. This captured her interest and encouraged her to enrol in additional classes.

Promoting the cause

She attended yoga lessons, played sports, and engaged in other enjoyable activities in the sessions that followed, all while learning about the serious hazards that NCDs carry. However, Divya continued to learn outside of YHP. She learned about the peer educator programme, which enabled her to participate in YHP and raise awareness among thousands of other kids.

Spreading knowledge in classrooms

According to Divya, the Young Health Programme has taught her that being physically active is essential for a healthy lifestyle. Regular exercise helps me stay focused on my studies and reduces my risk of becoming obese. Now, I invite more residents of my neighbourhood to participate in this programme so they can also modify certain aspects of their lives. 
 
Even Divya’s father claims that she only uses his phone for games and that she is mindful of how much time she spends in front of the screen. 
 
500 members in the community have now received crucial knowledge about NCD risk factors from Divya. She has persuaded more than 200 youth to join the YHP, and she keeps having an impact on more.