Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, Jun 23: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said that the ‘Goa CARES: Longitudinal Cohort Study’ will help position Goa as an emerging centre for advanced public health research and international scientific collaboration.
Highlighting the growing challenge of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, chronic respiratory disorders and lifestyle-related illnesses, Sawant said nearly three-fourths of Goa’s disease burden is linked to such conditions.
“High blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol levels and environmental factors have emerged as major risk contributors,” the Chief Minister said.
He stated that the data generated through the CARES study would help answer critical questions on why certain diseases are increasing, which sections of society are more vulnerable, the impact of lifestyle and environmental factors, and how risks can be identified through early interventions before diseases develop.
The Directorate of Health Services (DHS), on behalf of the Goa government, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Centre for Cancer Epidemiology (CCE), Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, and the University of Oxford, United Kingdom, for the ‘Goa CARES: Longitudinal Cohort Study 2025’.
Sawant said the initiative was not just a research project but an investment in the future health and well-being of Goans.
“It will help shape future healthcare policies, strengthen disease prevention programmes, improve screening strategies and support better allocation of healthcare resources,” he said.
The ambitious public health research initiative aims to address gaps in understanding the causes and patterns of NCDs in the state.
The study will track 1 lakh adults between the ages of 25 and 70 years for a period of 10 years. It will focus on identifying major modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory conditions.
The project will collect detailed health information, including medical history, lifestyle assessments, genetic analysis and environmental exposure data from participants to create a comprehensive health database.
Later, the Chief Minister flagged off four advanced ambulances for the Directorate of Health Services under disaster management in the presence of Health Minister Vishwajit Rane and other officials.
The ambulances, purchased at a cost of Rs 1.43 crore, will be deployed for highway medical response and emergency healthcare support during accidents and disasters.
Director of Health Services Rupa Naik and Director of Centre for Cancer Epidemiology, Tata Memorial Centre, Rajesh Dikshit, were also present on the occasion.