AHMEDABAD: A recent health survey of 7,000 policemen in Ahmedabad has showed that although the number of policemen suffering from serious ailments has dipped, their disease profile has changed. However, obesity continues to be a nagging problem for city police. Contrary to the last health checkup in 2008 where most policemen were found to be suffering from heart-related ailments and blood pressure, the organs under threat are now kidney and liver.
One middle-aged policeman was also detected to be HIV positive, which is a first in city police circles.
A massive health check-up drive was conducted by senior police officials last month where 7,000 constables, assistant sub-inspectors and sub-inspectors underwent a medical checkup which included urine and blood examination , x-ray , cardiogram, sonography, eye, dental and orthopedic tests. The police had tied up with 25 private hospitals for the project. The tests, which would normally cost Rs 2,000, were conducted for free by the hospitals.
Shamsher Singh, joint commissioner of police (headquarters), told TOI that some results were pending and officers would be next in line for the tests. "The results have shown a positive trend where out of 7,000 personnel, less than 1,000 show some illness. Of them, diabetes, blood pressure, low hemoglobin and kidney diseases are common ailments," he said. In 2008, out of 1,800 cops who were checked, nearly 50 per cent were found suffering from some or the other illness.
Singh said that the good health profile was because most of the policemen in the current batch were young. The previous study showed over 30 per cent police personnel obese or prone to heart diseases. The ratio is much lower in the 2011 study. "At the moment we have many constables and police sub inspectors who are at the entry level of their career and are below the age of 35 years, hence less prone to serious diseases. The younger staff is found to be fitter and healthier than their older counterparts in the check-ups," said Singh.
Out of 7,000 policemen who were covered in the check-up, at least 3,500 are below the age of 35. This is because 3,000 policemen retired from service in the last two years from various levels in the city.
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