Mangaluru, Nov 13, 2014: KMC Hospital, Mangalore, in association with Panambur Beach Tourism Development Project, will observe World Diabetes Day on November 14 by launching their awareness programme. The event will be marked by lighting 100 air lanterns of the universal colour of diabetes - Blue. Dean of KMC Mangalore Dr M V Prabhu will light the first lantern.
This project is aimed at bringing about a holistic approach to educate, aware and inform people of this particular health menace that threatens to make India the largest diabetic country in the world. The awareness campaign will include features like ’Take the Stairs’ where all the employees and stakeholders of the unit will be encouraged to adopt healthy habits, like taking the stairs instead of elevators.
Dr Chakrapani, professor of medicine, briefed about the benefits of the ’Diabetes Club Card’ which will be launched on World Diabetes Day. The members can avail various benefits at KMC Hospital, Attavar & Ambedkar Circle. The first 50 members will also be given Accucheck machines at a special price of Rs 500 against MRP of Rs.1495.
"Diabetes is a chronic disease. Around 347 million people worldwide have diabetes while In India, around 50.9 million people suffer from diabetes. It is believed that in the current rate this figure is likely to go up to 80 million by 2025, making it the ’Diabetes Capital’ of the world. At this critical juncture, KMC Hospitals want to intervene and reverse this ever growing trend," professor of medicine Dr Prabha Adhikari said.
Diabetic-foot care specialist Dr Praveen Chandra said that preventive care is the best medicine to fight diabetes. KMC Hospital has saved many diabetic feet’s from getting amputated over the year, he further added.
"We need to act now and campaign like The Blue Messenger helps in increasing the consensus of people towards diabetes. We should work proactively to spread awareness to develop an attitude of self-consciousness," medical superintendent Dr Anand Venugopal added.