Mangaluru: The Government Wenlock Hospital in the city will start its operation of an exclusive unit meant for early detection of diabetes and hypertension within a fortnight.

Last year in the second phase of the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stoke (NPCDCS) sanctioned the clinic to Wenlock Hospital among other clinics. Since the last four years, a similar Clinic has been operating at the Government Hospital in Udupi.

The clinic will be located near the Malaria clinic on the first floor of the out-patient block side of Wenlock Hospital, informed Dr B.V. Rajesh, Dakshina Kannada District Programme Officer of NPCDCS. Other than screening for diabetes and hypertension for those aged above 30, patients can get also get medical treatment here. Both screening and treatment will be done free of cost.

The State government has recruited a medical officer and two staff nurses for the clinic. They have to get a laboratory technician, a counsellor, a physiotherapist and a data entry operator. The BP measuring apparatus, ECG machine and other machines for the clinic have been procured, said Dr. Rajesh.

In addition to the medicine OPD of the hospital where screening and treatment facility for non-communicable diseases, respiratory disorders, diabetes and hypertension was available, the NCD clinic has been created, informed Dr Rajesh.

The work on interiors is ongoing and the government has also provided insulin and the other required medicines, he added.

the district cell of the NPCDCS has been compiling data of detection and treatment of diabetes from PHCs and UHCs and sending reports on a monthly basis to the NPCDCS national cell. The facility for detection and treatment of diabetes was available in 78 primary health centres and 10 urban health centres, he said.