A three-day public awareness exhibition exclusively dedicated for diabetes- its prevention, control and treatment, is being organised at Tallakulam Lakshmi Sundaram Hall in Madurai from August 10 to 12.
Country’s leading player in diabetes care Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre is organising this awareness expo ‘Diabetes Exhibition 2012’ on a large scale with an objective to make general public learn everything about diabetes. The entry is free.
“This is time to declare war on diabetes because of its threatening prevalence. Currently, there are 62.4 million persons with diabetes in India. It is a silent disease, a silent killer with no symptoms. People will have to check their blood sugar level regularly”, said Dr. V. Mohan, Chairman, Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre, while addressing a press conference in the city on Friday.
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To create awareness on diabetes and its complications, there will be 30 theme stalls to convey the message in simple language through posters, charts and photographs. Video and audio programmes, yoga/aerobics, blood sugar test, quiz and cultural programmes have been lined up at this exhibition which will be inaugurated by Corporation Mayor V. V. Rajan Chellappa.
Leading diabetologists will present awareness lectures with focus on complications of diabetes on eye, foot and kidneys.
Stating that Indians can no longer afford to ignore diabetes, Dr. Mohan said that as per estimates the country will have 101 million diabetics by the year 2030. “We have taken up this initiative because our centre is a recognised World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for non-communicable diseases prevention and control. Also, we have been recognised as International Diabetes Federation Centre of Education. This recognition also brings responsibility to educate people at right time,” he added.
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At the Diabetes 2012 event, there will be recipe demonstrations and fitness corners to tell people on which exercises are ideal for control of diabetes. “This type of expo was conducted five times successfully in Chennai and once at Hyderabad. For the benefit of people in and around Madurai, this is being organised,” he said. The exhibition, Dr. Mohan said, assumes importance as many people do not know that diabetes is preventable and steps can be taken to minimise the risks. Food products suitable for diabetics will be available at discount rates in this expo. Blood sugar test will be done at nominal charge.
In the year 2000, India had 31.7 million people with diabetes while this number had increased to 50.8 million in the year 2010. The diabetes awareness exhibition will be open to public from 9.am. to 8 p.m. on August 11 and 12.
City’s eminent diabetologists G. Chandra Mohan of Madurai Diabetes Hospital and Research Centre and A. J. Asirvatham, Professor and Head of Department of Diabetology, Madurai Medical College, will speak at the inaugural function on August 10 at 6 p.m.
S. Ravikumar and A. Kannan, diabetologists at Dr.Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre, Anna Nagar, Madurai, were present at the press meet.