HEALTH WALK TO PREVENT DIABETES

HEALTH WALK TO PREVENT DIABETES

The ‘Walk to Health-2012’ programme is being held in Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha as part of World Diabetes Day on Wednesday.The programme is part of a diabetes-control campaign jointly launched by the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF), Medical Trust Hospital, and the Diabetes Care Centre at Kulanada, near Pandalam.The programme had won international recognition for effectively utilising the social media for diabetes control in 2011.Talking to The Hindu , G.Dileepkumar, project manager, said the Walk to Health-2012 was part of Global Diabetes Walk sponsored by the WDF.Mr. Dileepkumar said over one lakh people, including volunteers of the National Service Scheme, health workers, people’s representatives, and students and their parents, would participate in the 30-minute ‘health walk’ from 9.30 a.m. to be held at 50 places in Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha on Wednesday.

G.Vijayakumar, senior diabetologist and hospital chairman, who leads the project, said 4,500 NSS volunteers had been campaigning in the two districts highlighting the importance of diabetes control and prevention. He said walking 30 minutes would help in controlling diabetes.Dr.Vijayakumar said the ‘kNOw Diabetes’ programme, part of the diabetes-prevention campaign, was being implemented in association with the district panchayats in Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha, National Rural Health Mission, Health Department, and local self-government institutions.Mr. Dileepkumar said the WDF-supported diabetes-prevention and control programme targeted schoolchildren, teachers, and parents as an effective medium to create awareness on the disease and its management among the common man.

Moreover, it would lead to creation of a healthy environment at houses, schools and surrounding areas, reducing the risk factors, he added.He said cardiologist Sivasankaran of the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology would be the chief guest at a diabetes day meet to be held at the Medical Trust Hospital auditorium at Kulanada.

Prof. John Kurakar