SL to have blood pressure meters in public places

25 April 2012 06:23 am - 13 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Sri Lanka will install meters in Colombo's public places to measure blood pressure of people, in a country where at least 350 die every day due to heart attacks, hypertension and respiratory diseases.

W.M.D. Wanninayake, media secretary of the ministry of health, said five blood pressure apparatus will be fixed in the capital in the first phase of the project, Xinhua reported.

He said Sri Lanka has been able to control the number of cases of communicable diseases, but there has been a significant increase in non-communicable diseases, especially caused by high blood pressure.

According to the health ministry's Non-Communicable Disease Unit, around 350 Sri Lankans die daily due to heart attacks, diabetes, hypertension, kidney and respiratory diseases.

The official said the five machines to check blood pressure will be set up from April 30. More will be put in other places.

A study by the ministry found that the rise in non-communicable diseases was mainly due to changes in lifestyle, unhealthy food patterns, tobacco use and alcohol consumption as well as physical inactivity.

The World Bank last year announced that during the past 50 years, deaths due to heart disease in Sri Lanka have risen from three per cent to 24 per cent, while the percentage of deaths due to infectious disease dropped from 24 per cent to 12 per cent. (IANS)

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Comments - 13

Bigfoot Wednesday, 25 April 2012 06:59 AM

Nonsense. Blood pressure needs to be checked by a doctor.

msdk Wednesday, 25 April 2012 06:44 AM

A Good Leap In Healthcare facility... Wat bout the security measures?? We hav the most intelligent robbers around..

Wimal_Modawansa Wednesday, 25 April 2012 06:36 AM

good idea to cater to unplanned price increases.

Fayad Wednesday, 25 April 2012 07:09 AM

Because of the cost of living peoples blood pressure has gone up

rangith Wednesday, 25 April 2012 07:00 AM

good move... everytime prices go up, check ur bp!!!!!

Mifaz Wednesday, 25 April 2012 07:18 AM

Good income for some drug addicts roaming in the city.

Bigfoot Wednesday, 25 April 2012 07:21 AM

I smell %.

ind Wednesday, 25 April 2012 07:46 AM

Then you have to take a medical checkup.

Mahajanaya Wednesday, 25 April 2012 07:54 AM

The way cost of living in Sri Lanka people need oxygen tank every bus stand? Please Mr. Wanninayake can you arrange that too…

sana boyana boy Wednesday, 25 April 2012 01:33 PM

Who is responsible

Shelton Fernando Wednesday, 25 April 2012 05:25 PM

Why not arrange a doctor too at each junction?

krishan canagasabey Thursday, 26 April 2012 08:46 AM

Hope everyone that users it washed there hands first, we dont want to increase communicable diseases!!!

Yehiya Thursday, 26 April 2012 12:51 PM

Good. Thanking to minister. Please reduce the tax on home use BP& serum suger moniters .& strips. Sri Lanka is the highest tax on education channels (24%)& Physical excersice machines.

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SL to have blood pressure meters in public places

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