Mangalore : The State government will launch a World Bank-funded pilot project on preventing non-communicable diseases in the State in Dakshina Kannada and Davangere districts on October 7, according to U.T. Khader, Minister for Health and Family Welfare.

Some of these non-communicable diseases are diabetes, hypertension and cancer.

Addressing presspersons here on Thursday, he said that under this project, any person suspected of having diabetes, hypertension or cervical cancer could approach the nearest primary health centre (PHC) or government hospital. They would be examined and given medicines for free. Each PHC and hospital in the two districts would have a trained nurse each appointed on contract basis for examining patients.

Mr. Khader said that about Rs. 2 lakh would be spent per year per each PHC and the hospital under the project. Of this, Rs. 1 lakh would be for salary, while the remaining amount would be for medicines. This pilot project would be in force till March 2016, after which a decision would be taken whether to extend the scheme to other districts or not. The project for would be launched at a function at T.M.A. Pai International Convention Centre here on October 7.

Mr. Khader said that the Union government’s Mission Indradhanush — a scheme for vaccination of children and pregnant women — would be extended to Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and 15 other districts in the State from October 7.

He said the State government had been successfully implementing the programme in six high priority areas of Ballari, Bengaluru Urban, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, Kalaburagi, Koppal, Raichur and Yadgir. It would be extended to Vijayapura, Bagalkot, Dharawad, Gadag, Haveri, Uttara Kannada, Mysuru, Kolar, Chickballapur, Tumakuru, Chitradurga, Davangere, Bidar, Belagavi and Ramanagaram.

Children aged up to two years and their mothers would be vaccinated against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, measles, Hepatitis B, Haemophilus Influenzae type B and Japanese Encephalitis. Hence, efforts were being made to close immunity gaps and strengthen immunisation coverage, he said.