Diabetes: Early screening helps in cure, says expert

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 7

As part of the World Health Day celebrations all over the world on April 7, the local branch of Indian Public Health Association at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, organised a symposium at National Institute of Nursing Education (NINE), PGIMER, Chandigarh, on World Health Day theme ‘Beat diabetes – Scale up prevention, strengthen care and enhance surveillance’.

Dr Sandhya Ghai, principal, NINE, PGI, welcomed the guests. Rajesh Kumar, HoD, Community Medicine and School of Public Health, delivered the key note address on the worldwide incidence and prevalence of diabetes. Dr JS Thakur, professor of community medicine, informed that India is the capital of type II diabetes mellitus.

Prof Anil Bhansali, HoD, Endocrinology, stressed the need of early screening of blood for sugar for detection of diabetes so that early treatment can be started. Dr Pooja Sikka, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynaecology, explained the management of diabetes mellitus in pregnancy. The symposium was attended by 250 participants, including residents, PhD scholars, faculty members, research scientists, MPH scholars, nursing students, medical officers and general public. This event was followed by free medical camp, candle march and flash work out to create awareness among the general public at Sector 17 Plaza.

Painting competition

As part of the celebrations, department of community medicine, PGIMER, and Civil Hospital, Sector 45, organised a painting competition at Government Model School, Sector 45, and Civil Hospital today.

Health camp

Around 1,000 pamphlets were distributed among general public to create awareness about screening and health check up camp for diabetes at Civil Hospital, Sector 45. About 50 patients were screened free-of-cost for blood sugar and high blood pressure at the hospital.

Awareness camps

To mark the day, awareness programmes were organised at government schools of Chandigarh by Chandigarh State AIDS Control Society in collaboration with the NSS. Awareness lecture on Health, Hygiene and HIV/AIDS was delivered to students of Jawahar Navodya Vidyala, Sector 25, and Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 38 West, Chandigarh.