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In seven years from now, India will have the
dubious distinction of being the world capital of diabetes. This
warning was given by Dr. P.H. Ananthanarayanan, Deputy Director
General (Medical), Directorate General of Health Services, New
Delhi at the launch of a manual and poster on Primary Prevention
of Diabetes, in Chennai on Sunday (Jan 20).
He said that diabetes is one of the most
crucial of the non-communicable diseases. Regular physical
activities, healthy diet and avoidance of alcohol and tobacco
are the main steps for prevention and control of
non-communicable diseases, he added. The WHO collaborating
centre for diabetes in India and M. V. Hospital for Diabetes and
Diabetes Research Centre released the manual.
The Lifetime achievement award was presented
to Prof. Dr. K. Meer Mustafa Hussain, Vice-chancellor, Tamil
Nadu Dr. M.G.R. medical university, Chennai. Prof. M.
Viswanathan Gold Medal Oration Award 2007 was conferred on Dr.
Gojka Roglic, Responsible Officer, WHO diabetes programme,
Geneva.
According to Dr. Vijay Viswanathan, Managing Director, M.V.
Hospital for Diabetes and Diabetes Research Centre, the manual
details facts and guidelines on primary prevention of diabetes.
It aims at creating awareness among medical personnel, para
medicals and doctors in primary health care who work at the
ground level to identify early and protect individuals from the
risk of developing diabetes, he added. He also said that the
education materials, which were released in English and Tamil,
would soon be launched in 7 languages including Bengali and
Hindi.
Prof. Meer Mustafa Hussain said that in India, around 33 million
people are suffering from diabetes, the majority being the urban
population. Awareness should be created largely at rural areas,
as they do not normally consult a physician unless and until the
situation is very bad, he added. He also presented trophies and
cash prizes for the winners of the annual Prof. M. Viswanathan
Oratorical Award.
Dr. Gojka Roglic spoke on issues and solutions for preventing
the epidemic of diabetes in India.
U. Bakialakshmi
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