Spread awareness on diabetes in rural areas: Governor Harichandan tells doctors

Vijayawada, November 14 (praja amaravati): Andhra Pradesh Governor Sri Biswabhusan Harichandan participated as Chief Guest at the World Diabetes Day programme organised by VGR Diabetes Education & Awareness Charitable Trust, at Siddharth College Auditorium here on Monday.

Speaking on the occasion, Governor Sri Harichandan has said that Diabetes constitutes a major health concern that has reached alarming levels with nearly one in ten adults around the world currently affected with diabetes and half of them do not even know they have it. India has the world's highest population of people with diabetes and the number is growing at a very fast pace and understanding the condition is the first step towards managing and preventing it, said the Governor. He said that there is a greater need to sensitise the stakeholders for prevention and care through awareness campaigns and make people aware of how to avoid getting diabetes; those with diabetes need to know what they should do to delay or prevent the dreaded complications. Rural areas need special attention as they lack proper health infrastructure and have low literacy rates. Regular screening camps should be organised, and publications printed in local language and distributed among the people, said the Governor. Students who participated in various competitions were given mementoes and senior doctors in different fields of medicine have been felicitated on occasion.

Sri Justice D.V.S.S. Somayajulu, Judge of Andhra Pradesh High Court, Sri R.P. Sisodia, Special Chief Secretary to Governor, Sri Dilli Rao, NTR District Collector, Dr. Shyam Prasad, Vice Chancellor of Dr. YSR University of Health Sciences, Dr. A. Sreedhar Reddy, Chairman, IRCS, AP State Branch, Sri Pathuri Nagabhushanam, Dr. I. Ramasubba Reddy, Former President, Indian Psychiatric Association, Dr. K. Venugopala Reddy, VGR Diabetes Education & Charitable Trust, were among those who attended the programme.