Dinesh Gundu Rao. | Photo credit: File photo
Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Tuesday released a training manual titled “Addressing Dietary Risk Factors, Including Salt Reduction” in the city, highlighting the focus on addressing preventable non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
The handbook was prepared to strengthen the capacity of health workers across Karnataka with a special focus on reducing excessive salt consumption – a major dietary risk factor associated with hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and kidney disorders.
Officials said unhealthy dietary habits, including high intakes of salt, sugar and fat, are a major contributor to the rising burden of non-communicable diseases in the state. Many of these conditions can be prevented by timely and sustained interventions, especially by supporting informed food choices at the household level.
NCD program
The initiative is in line with the goals of the National Program for the Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke, which calls for stronger prevention strategies and lifestyle modification to reduce the burden of disease.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Rao said that heart disease, diabetes, stroke and kidney disease are putting increasing pressure not only on individuals and families but also on the public health system. “Several of these diseases are preventable if unhealthy dietary practices are addressed early,” he said, noting that excessive salt consumption remains a key problem.
He noted that eating habits are often ingrained at an early age and continue due to a lack of awareness and structured guidance.
Hello Karnataka
The minister said the government’s vision of ‘Healthy Karnataka’ rests on prevention, early action and people-centred care. In this effort, health workers—including doctors, nurses, counselors, and frontline workers—play a critical role as they interact with communities on a daily basis and influence health-related behaviors.
To support them, the handbook offers practical, evidence-based guidelines that can be applied at primary, secondary and tertiary levels of care. It provides clear information about a healthy diet, recommended salt intake, the risks associated with high sodium consumption, and actionable strategies to reduce salt consumption in households and communities. It also integrates structured dietary counseling into mainstream healthcare services.
Mr. Rao expressed his belief that systematic use of the manual in training and regular service delivery would increase community awareness, promote healthier eating practices and help prevent preventable complications from NCDs.
Published – 24 Feb 2026 21:49 IST
