RAMGARH : Dr. Devinder Kumar Manyal, Hon’ble MLA Ramgarh, attended a health awareness programme today organized under the STEPS-INDIA Multi-Centric Study titled “Strategies for Enhanced Population Engagement and Health Care Seeking for Prevention and Control of Hypertension and Diabetes in India, an ICMR funded Project implemented by AIIMS Jammu.The event was held at Ayushman Arogya Mandir, Sanoora with a focus on promoting preventive healthcare and strengthening community engagement to combat the growing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly hypertension and diabetes.
The programme was coordinated by Dr. Richa Arora (BMO Nud) and Dr. Ritika Gupta (Ayushman Arogya Mandir, Sanoora).
Speaking at the event, Dr. Devinder Kumar Manyal appreciated the dedicated efforts of the medical and research teams. He emphasized the urgent need to address lifestyle-related illnesses in rural populations through early diagnosis, regular screening, health education and awareness. He reiterated his full support for research-based health initiatives that directly impact grassroots healthcare delivery.
Dr. Richa Arora highlighted the importance of such community-level interventions in raising awareness and empowering local health workers to foster timely health-seeking behavior.
Dr. Sitikantha Banerjee, Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, AIIMS Jammu and Principal Investigator for the Samba district under the STEPS-INDIA project, explained that the study aims to build scalable, community-driven models for NCD prevention and control based on strong scientific evidence.
Also present on the occasion were Dr. Sanjolly Gupta (Project Research Scientist – Medical), Dr. Aashima Magotra (Project Research Scientist – Non-Medical), and Mr. Sahil (Project Technical Support), who contributed technical expertise and operational support to ensure the success of the programme.
