Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Nov 15: In observance of the World Diabetes Week beginning from November 14th, the World Diabetes Day, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh,who is himself a nationally renowned Diabetologist, released here today, two Guideline books on management of Diabetes.
Of the two books, one is based on hospital guidelines for Diabetes management, which were launched by union Health Minister J.P. Nadda earlier this year, but the formal distribution of the same will begin from today. The second book, edited by Dr Vijay Vishwanathan, deals with the subject of Diabetes & Tuberculosis.
The book release ceremony was attended, among others, by some of the country’s leading Diabetologists and office bearers of RSSDI (Research Society for Study of Diabetes in India) including Prof. (Dr.) S.V. Madhu, past President RSSDI, Dr. Rajeev Chawla, Honorary Secretary, Dr. B.M. Makkar Honorary Treasurer, Dr. Rakesh Manya, Dr. R.K. Lalwani and Dr. Shalini Jaggi.
Both the books have been published by RSSDI, the largest organization of Diabetologists in Asia, which is an affiliate of the IDA (International Diabetes Association) and is primarily devoted to research of Diabetes in India and formulating specific Indian strategies for management of Diabetes in this country.
Congratulating the RSSDI for having observed the World Diabetes Day and World Diabetes Week in a unique manner by gifting to the medical fraternity of India, a set of books which will come handy to them for reference while offering optimum treatment to an Indian patient of Diabetes in Indian context, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the founding fathers of RSSDI like Prof. M.M.S. Ahuja and Prof. Sam G. P. Moses had envisaged for this organization the academic task of continuous research and update in the interest of better patient care and to that extent, it is gratifying to note that even when the founding stalwarts of RSSDI are no longer around, those from the next generation who have taken over, are equally dedicated to this commitment.
Every third or fourth patient visiting a hospital or healthcare centre for any clinical complaint happens to be a Diabetic, observed Dr Jitendra Singh and said, therefore, it was important to familiarize clinicians across the country with a uniform manual of treatment so that the patient could get the best. He said, he would soon write to the Health Ministers and Health Secretaries of all the States and Union Territories to procure the copies of these two books released today and, as far as possible, circulate the same to every healthcare centre across the country.
With India today comprising nearly 70% of population which is below 40 years of age and at the same time, the rapidly spreading Diabetes in young posing a huge challenge, Dr Jitendra Singh said, our future focus shall be on control and prevention of Diabetes in younger age group. And this is not only a medical priority but also a national priority for a country like India which can hardly afford to allow its youth energy to wither away or go waste because it is on the basis of the same youth energy that India looks forward to become a world power in the years to come, he added.
Earlier, introducing the book, Dr S.V. Madhu gave a detail of the concept and idea behind the decision of RSSDI to undertake publication of these books. He said, RSSDI has started an exercise to bring out a series of such books and monographs on different aspects of Diabetes and this will be an ongoing process for some time to come.