Awareness and education on diabetes is must – ZP CEO Priyanka Mary Francis
Udupi: Awareness and education on diabetes must be done in a big way and should be a continued said Priyanka Mary Francis CEO of Udupi Zilla Panchayat.
She was speaking after inaugurating the World Health Day programme at Shirdi Saibaba Hospital organised by the District Administration and KMC Manipal on Thursday, April 7.
The medical fraternity should work towards imparting health education to all since the number of diabetics in India – which is marching towards economically stronger position – is increasing at an alarming rate. The country is achieving economically stronger status and simultaneously, the disease that is popularly known as rich man’s disease is also affecting increased number of people irrespective of their financial status.
Hence, there is a need to provide guidance and treatment to this condition. Change in lifestyle and eating habits has led to a steep increase in the number of diabetics. There is an urgent need to create awareness about the side effects of diabetes as a large number of people are suffering from the disease, she added.
District health officer Dr Rohini in her introductory remarks said that diabetes is more of a lifestyle disorder that can be attributed to modifiable risk factors such as lack of physical exercise, obesity and eating junk food. Indians have one of the highest incidents of, diabetes, with the normal and pre-diabetes stages to diabetes, she added.
Dr Anish George dean of Manipal College of Nursing presided over the function. Dr Sahsidr Y N superintendent of Manipal Community health service, Sandhya Prabhu and others were present.
Pics By Flavin D’Souza, Team Mangalorean
