A rally from Kali Mata temple to YMCA on the Beach Road, an awareness programme highlighting the theme of the year ‘Beat Diabetes: Scale up prevention, strengthen care and enhance surveillance’ followed by a panel discussion by partnering with the Public Health Foundation of India were some of the events organised to observe World Health Day by the District Medical Health Department on Thursday.
The panel discussion focused on ‘Diabetes- an important public health priority and complimentary roles of stakeholders in society’. Elaborating various steps to be taken to prevent diabetes, professor and HoD, Department of Community Medicine, Andhra Medical College B. Devi Madhavi gave a PowerPoint presentation on keeping a check on the lifestyle disorder by modifying food habits, making exercise as part of life, reducing the intake of junk food and adopting relaxation techniques life to keep stress at bay.
Explaining the services available for free diabetes screening along with non communicable disease, DMHO J. Sarojini said: “The aim is to reach out to urban, rural and tribal areas through our 104 vehicles across the district and cover as many patients as possible and help them treat long term diseases. A dedicated medical officer will also be available to examine the patients in each vehicle.”
There are about 20 such vehicles that will be covering 941 service points across the district. Of which, 13 have been specifically allotted for rural areas. A calendar is set to reach out to 3,000 persons at one or more service points every working day. “The revamped State government initiative offering service through 104 vehicles is all set to be operational from May 1,” said Dr. Sarojini.
