Diabetes and hypertension are considered as the two most dangerous non-communicable diseases of the world, accounting to around 5 per cent deaths around the world every year.

Even though diabetes and hypertension are considered more of as lifestyle diseases, however, studies have shown that they are very much genetically transmitted as well.

Chances of a person getting diabetic is more if his/her parents are also diabetic, is one of the common notion that we seldom come across.

And the notion is not completely false as well, several studies have shown so far.

Non-communicable diseases need extensive awareness and to generate such awareness, Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI) launched a programme in 2018.

Targeting mostly the rural population residing on the outskirts of Kamrup (Metro), the VHAI has been focussing extensively mainly on diabetes and hypertension since the launch of the project.

The VHAI inked a partnership with Lal Path Labs Foundation for implementation of a project name AROGYA.

Under the project free of cost tests on hypertension and blood sugar are being carried out in several localities in the Kamrup (metro) district by setting up screening camps.

During the COVID-19 pandemic period awareness activities on COVID-19 are also being carried out under the project with special focus to sensitize the people on how COVID-19 infection is riskier for people living with Non-Communicable Diseases like hypertension and diabetes.

Since COVID-19 has proven extremely fatal for patients suffering from diabetes and hypertension, hence VHAI and Lal Path Labs Foundation have been trying their best to make people aware of this fatality.

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"Data from China and Italy- countries hit early by the virus- show a higher risk of COVID-19 infections and complications in people with high blood pressure," writes Dr Gautom Borgohain.

Dr Borgohain, who is a WHO-NTP consultant, further writes, "In China, 25 per cent to 50 per cent of people who came to hospitals with coronavirus had high blood pressure or another health condition like cancer, diabetes, or lung disease."

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"In Italy, a report said that more than 99 per cent of people who had died from the virus had one of these conditions- and 76 per cent of them had high blood pressure," he added.

" Coronavirus can also damage the heart directly, which can be especially risky if your heart is already weakened by the effects of high blood pressure," he further writes.

"The virus may cause inflammation of the heart muscle called myocarditis, which makes it harder for the heart to pump," he added.

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Dr Borgohain further says that in such a pandemic situation, any person having diabetes and blood pressure should stay indoors as much possible and venture out only during extreme urgency.

The same message has also been delivered by the VHAI and Lal Path Labs' team to those people whom they have found diabetic and suffering from hypertension.