The China Rural Health Initiative
Rural China is home to 700 million Chinese with a fast growing burden of chronic disease. The problem is especially marked in areas where access to basic health services is difficult.
The George Institute China, recognises that the rural health of China is a significant priority for the nation. The China Rural Health Initiative – a unique, flagship project of the China International Center for Chronic Disease Prevention – has been developed to focus on addressing cardiovascular disease and other major health issues in rural China via a series of targeted healthcare projects that will have a practical and measurable impact on health outcomes in local communities.
With high rates of chronic disease in these areas, low-cost and sustainable primary care prevention and management is vital. The Center will identify strategies such as evidence-based and policy-relevant capacity building programs for village doctors, and salt reduction education programs, which will be suitable for rural China and potentially other resource-poor areas.
Many of these conditions and deaths are preventable. Diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure are all treatable conditions and provide opportunity for population-wide programs that will have a big impact on health.
Using the best possible methodology to conduct such a large-scale study, researchers will engage with 100 or more villages from five regions in rural China. The first major intervention to be evaluated will be a primary care-based community program that will improve identification and medical management of individuals who are at high cardiovascular risk.
Researchers at the Center are currently developing a protocol to evaluate a Simplified Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Management Package to be applied by the primary care providers in rural China. There is huge potential for blood pressure lowering strategies for high-risk individuals, but little work has been done to test the feasibility of implementing such strategies in rural Chinese communities.
Read more about the China Rural Health Initiative.
