News
More police officers die of NCDs: Acting IGP orders exercises, sports activities
View(s):The soaring prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among police personnel has prompted a circular from Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasooriya directing all personnel to compulsorily engage in physical training exercises every Saturday morning.
The circular has also instructed the 9,000-strong police service to carry out team sports like volleyball in the evenings.
The directive, a version of which was issued last year, was renewed after statistics showed a relatively high number of deaths among police personnel owing to NCDs, police sources said.
In 2023, nearly 250 police officers succumbed to NCDs while the number had exceeded 200 by October this year.
Steps were now being taken to address the issue, the sources said. This includes encouraging police officers to use medical help desks set up in their divisions so that they could be sent for specialist care at the police hospital in Colombo.
The NCDs include heart, liver, and kidney issues, cancer, and diabetes. Police officers often do 24-hour duty and are unable to rest or take their meals on time, while also being exposed to high stress, the sources said, adding that more attention was now being paid to the importance of good health. Efforts will also be made to gather more comprehensive statistics.
The sources, however, said that officers in charge of police stations must be encouraged to release their staff for health checks. Mobile health clinics have now been introduced, with some already held in Tangalle, Kilinochchi, and other areas.
Sports are being promoted also as a part of the community policing concept.
The directive, a version of which was issued last year, was renewed after statistics showed a relatively high number of deaths among police personnel owing to NCDs, police sources said.
The OIC and other officers of the Beruwala police were seen last morning engaged in physical exercises near the Beruwala Fisheries Harbour. Pic by Thusitha Kumara de Silva
In 2023, nearly 250 police officers succumbed to NCDs while the number had exceeded 200 by October this year. Steps were now being taken to address the issue, the sources said. This includes encouraging police officers to use medical help desks set up in their divisions so that they could be sent for specialist care at the police hospital in Colombo.
The NCDs include heart, liver, and kidney issues, cancer, and diabetes. Police officers often do 24-hour duty and are unable to rest or take their meals on time, while also being exposed to high stress, the sources said, adding that more attention was now being paid to the importance of good health. Efforts will also be made to gather more comprehensive statistics.
The sources, however, said that officers in charge of police stations must be encouraged to release their staff for health checks. Mobile health clinics have now been introduced, with some already held in Tangalle, Kilinochchi, and other areas.
Sports are being promoted also as a part of the community policing concept.
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