The IHMI aims to reduce disability and death related to cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death in India, by improving the control of high blood pressure (hypertension), reducing salt consumption and eliminating artificial trans-fats, leading risk factors for CVD.
The initiative is an attempt to raise awareness about NCDs amongst families regarding packaged food and processed foods with excessive salt and trans-fat. The risk factors have to be managed at a very young age and we need to look into behavioral issues related to food intake, especially salt.
The India Hypertension Management Initiative (IHMI) is a collaborative project of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), State Governments, World Health Organization (WHO), and Resolve to Save Lives initiative of Vital Strategies.
The IHMI is focused on five essential components of scalable treatment of hypertension:
It will support the adoption of standardized simplified treatment plans for managing high blood pressure,
ensure the regular and uninterrupted supply of quality-assured medications,
task sharing so health workers who are accessible to patients can distribute medications already prescribed by the medical officer, and
patient-centered services that reduce the barriers to treatment adherence.
Data on hypertension will be improved through streamlined monitoring systems, and the lessons learned and practice-based evidence will inform further interventions to improve cardiovascular care.
Around 200 million adults in India have high blood pressure, yet control rates for the condition remain low. In rural areas in India, only one quarter of people with hypertension are aware of their condition, and only around 10 percent have their blood pressure controlled. In urban areas, around 40 percent of people with hypertension are aware of their condition, and only around 20 percent have their blood pressure controlled.
