Kerala Gets UN Award For Outstanding Contribution In Control Of Non-Communicable Diseases

The much talked about Kerala Model in Healthcare has been granted another global recognition as the southern state bagged a United Nations award for its "outstanding contribution" towards the non-communicable diseases-related sustainable development goals.

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The UN Interagency Task Force (UNIATF) award this year on prevention and control of non-communicable diseases was announced by World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Thursday.

Pleased to present awards at the Interagency Task Force to #BeatNCDs side event at #UNGA to those that have helped us save lives - thank you for joining @WHO in the fight to reduce deaths from cancer, diabetes, heart & lung diseases, & mental health conditions. https://t.co/s4Sq1B6vYp pic.twitter.com/YzJUckp8Hj

¡ª Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) September 24, 2020

The award recognises achievements during 2019 on the multisectoral action in the prevention and control of NCDs, mental health and the wider NCD-related sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Kerala has bagged the UN award for its multi sectoral approach in the prevention and control of non communicable diseases. The announcement has been made by WHO.

¡ª Thomas Isaac (@drthomasisaac) September 25, 2020

This is the first time the state has been recognised for this annual award. Kerala is among the seven ministries of health across the world.

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Health Minister K K Shailaja said the award was a recognition of the tireless service of Kerala in the health sector.

"The state government has arranged facilities from the basic public health centres to hospitals at all levels to treat the lifestyle diseases," Shailaja said in a statement. "We were able to control the death rate during the COVID-19 period as we were able to focus on the NCDs."

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She congratulated all the health workers for the achievement of the state.

Award recognising lifestyle disease control mechanism

The state government release said the award was a recognition of the lifestyle disease control mechanism in Kerala, and the treatment and free services received by a large section of the population.

"In addition, the state-of-the-art lung disease control program, cancer treatment program and paralysis control program were also considered for the award," it said.

Kerala which has the best Human Development Indexes (HDI) in the country also has one of the best public healthcare systems in India.

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The decades of investments successive Kerala government have resulted in a robust healthcare system and subsequently improved in health and life expectancy.

Kerala also has one of the lowest infant mortality rate and highest life expectancy in India.

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Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kerala Model has won praises from across the world including the WHO.

Though it could not maintain its initial success, Kerala is still one of the few states where there is no shortage of beds for COID-19 patients, despite the fact that private hospitals are not treating Coronavirus patients.