Excelsior Correspondent
DODA, May 1: Continuing his efforts to carry the Diabetes prevention and control campaign to the remotest and most peripheral areas of the State, renowned Diabetologist, National Professor of Diabetes and Chairman National Scientific Committee (RSSDI), Dr Jitendra Singh today held a Diabetes awareness programme cum detection camp at Doda. The programme was organised with joint collaboration of Diabetes Care Foundation (DCF), a registered NGO and District Hospital Doda.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Jitendra Singh said that diabetes education is the cornerstone for success of any diabetes control programme particularly in a vast country like India but most of the programmes funded by Government or aided by foreign agencies like WHO have so far not met with desired results because these were mainly confined to urban and semi-urban areas. With rapid spread of Diabetes epidemic to rural areas, it is the village folk who need to be involved in this drive, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that in the next two decades, the focus will be on youth and pregnant women because diabetes at young age can adversely affect the nation’s youth energy with risk of complications and incapacitation while diabetes in pregnant women sows the seed of higher diabetes risk in the next generation. He said in peripheral areas in particular, many of the youth suffer from undetected Diabetes and come to know of it only when they suffer from a heart attack or some other complication. Similarly pregnant women in remote areas donot have access to diabetes detection tests or are unable to afford these, he said.
Dr Jitendra Singh also emphasized the need to educate public regarding diseducation about diabetes spread by self-styled healers and misleading advertisements. Particularly, in peripheral areas, he said there are several myths and superstitions associated with Diabetes and added that with the right kind of treatment, a diabetic can lead a better and healthier life than even a non-diabetic.
On the occasion, a team of medical specialists led by Dr Jitendra Singh examined the patients and provided free counselling on life style and dietary aspects of diabetes management. Free Blood testing was carried out and free medicine was also distributed. Dr Farid, Medical Superintendant, Govt Hospital Doda, Varun Malhotra of Diabetes Care Foundation and Gajay Singh Rana, a well known local activist were among those prominently present in the programme.
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