Excelsior Correspondent
CHENNAI, July 31: In his opening address, after observing two-minute silence in the memory of Late Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam on the first day of the 3-day “International Diabetes Update” here today, Union Minister and renowned Diabetologist Dr. Jitendra Singh expressed concern over rapid upsurge of Diabetes in rural areas and emphasized that diabetes care in rural areas needs serious attention.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said, during the last one decade, there has been a dramatic change in the epedimological profile of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in India as a result of which the rural areas, which were hitherto unaffected, are also witnessing rapid spread of Diabetes. The problem is further compounded by the fact that more than 70% of medical practitioners are available mostly in urban and semi-urban areas but not in rural areas, he observed. To get over this paradox, he suggested that those of the young medicos who secure admission in medical colleges under backward area, rural area or similar other categories should be made to serve in these respective areas for a particular number of years after obtaining the degree.
Dr. Jitendra Singh observed that Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, which was till a few decades ago confined mainly to South India, has now rapidly spread even all over North and Northeast. This requires pro-active strategy not only for control of diabetes, but also for prevention, particularly among women and youth so that it does not have a disadvantageous effect on the nation’s human resources in the years to come. An aggressive intervention to prevent Diabetes in pregnant women may help in preventing its transmission to next generation for which all the concerned agencies need to be appropriately sensitized, he added.
Referring to the government’s role, Dr. Jitendra Singh disclosed that the Central Government has already initiated programmes to provide free glucometers for mass screening and the present Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda has been highly cooperative and responsive to all the professional inputs provided to him in this matter. He suggested to the distinguished scholars in the audience, the idea to contemplate setting up of a University of Diabetes in the country which could function as a seat of specialized learning and at the same time, an umbrella for diverse academic training courses.
Dr. V. Mohan, Head of the Madras Diabetes Research Centre, while introducing Dr. Jitendra Singh, hailed him as a Diabetologist and an author of high repute and expressed pride over the fact that he had been conferred responsibilities befitting his calibre. He also recalled that Dr. Jitendra Singh was, like him, also an alumni of Stanley Medical College, Chennai and has made his alma-mater proud.
President – elect American Diabetes Association Dr. Desmond Schatz, President – elect International Diabetes Federation Dr. S.M. Sadikot, President RSSDI Dr. S.V. Madhu, President – elect Association of Physicians of India Dr. Wander and past President, Association of Physicians of India, Dr. Shashank Joshi were among the others who shared the dais.
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