AXA, PHFI announce partnership to reduce burden on NCDs

"AXA as an insurance brand is about protecting people over the long term. For us, corporate responsibility is an essential part of our vision as we strive to empower people to live better lives. We can do so by educating people about the risks that face them and help them change their behaviours to better manage their risks. We have adopted this approach of risk prevention to address the growing problem of NCDs in India," said Marie-Louise Elhabre, Chief Executive Officer.

"India is facing huge economic burden in relation to NCDs and mental health conditions. As a responsible corporate, AXA is working on reducing the risk factors of NCDs with vulnerable populations around the regions where we operate - in Bengaluru and Pune cities. This effort is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages," added Nagarajan V, Head HR and Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer.

The study is guided by a multi-disciplinary advisory committee including experts from WHO, academic institutions, NGOs and government representatives. The intervention includes the following components:

School-based intervention: To impart health promotion and prevention messages (life-skills based) for the prevention and control of behavioural risk factors contributing to NCDs (unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and tobacco use) and to adopt a model of Health Promoting Schools.

College-based intervention: To prevent uptake and promote quitting of tobacco and alcohol use among college students and to promote alcohol and tobacco-free colleges through participatory research and social marketing approach.

Worksite intervention: To promote tobacco cessation through proactive offers of tobacco cessation at workplaces with focus on promoting use of national tobacco quit line and m-cessation programme of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

"We are guided by new evidence that highlights the need to step up cessation efforts at workplaces and the need to prevent NCD risk factors at young age. With heart attacks occurring in early twenties and school children being at risk of Type 2 diabetes, in India, there is dire need to implement innovative solutions to promote behaviour change across all settings," said Dr. Monika Arora, Director of the Health Promotion and Additional Professor at PHFI.

Dr. K. Srinath Reddy, President of the Public Health Foundation of India added, "NCDs have been viewed as a problem of adulthood, but children, adolescents and young people are at risk as well. With this partnership, we hope to adopt a comprehensive health promotion approach to promote healthy lifestyles among school children, college students and adults in workplaces and contribute towards reduction and prevention of NCD risk factors.