Government will launch population based prevention, screening and control programme for five common non-communicable diseases. They are Hypertension, Diabetes, and Cancers of oral cavity, breast and cervix. Health Ministry is expected to launch the programme on the occasion of World Cancer Day on 4th of February. <br/>'<br/>In the first phase, the screening will be rolled out in 100 districts in 32 states and Union Territories before March 31st of this year. ASHA and ANM workers will be trained for this purpose. ASHA workers will also be capturing information on major risk factors so that persons at risk could be counselled on leading healthy lifestyles to prevent onset of NCDs. In subsequent phases, Chronic Obstructive Respiratory diseases will be included and the programme will be scaled up to cover other districts. <br/><br/>Non-Communicable diseases, NCDs which are Cardiovascular Diseases like heart attacks and stroke, Diabetes, Chronic Respiratory Diseases and Cancer account for over 60 percent of all mortality in India. Of these, nearly 55 percent are premature mortality. Since these conditions do not exhibit symptoms until complications set in, it is essential to detect them early which enables treatment and prevents high financial costs and suffering.