TEAM HERALD
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MARGAO: Goans, beware. If India is known as the diabetic capital of the world, Goa too has a large share of the diabetic patients. And, these numbers are set to become epidemic and staggering if diabetes is not adequately controlled, even as British MP Keith Vaz handed over a Silver Start Mobile Diabetes Clinic to Apollo Victor Hospitals here on Sunday.
Says Medical Director, Apollo Victor hospitals, Dr Robert D’Costa: Though there’s no survey on the actual number of Goan population hit by diabetes, the figure could be in the region of one diabetic patient in every 10 persons. “If diabetes is not adequately controlled the patient has a significantly higher risk of developing complications with vital organs of the body. It is a disease that affects all the major organs in the body namely the heart, kidneys and nervous system. Hence our focus should be on preventive measures to tackle this major medical problem.”
Added British MP Keith Vaz: “We need a war on sugar. I stopped eating sugar. Diabetes remains a huge problem in Goa. We want to ensure that we not only raise awareness of the condition, but also treat those who are ill”.
At a ceremony held at the premises of Apollo Victor Hospitals, the Silver Star Mobile Diabetes Clinic was handed over to Dr Robert D’ Costa by Vaz in the presence of Adv Valanka Alemao and CMD Alcon Victor Group, Victor Albuquerque.
Silver Star was founded by the British MP and is a noble charity campaign to provide diabetes awareness, testing & care to millions of people in the UK & India. In Goa, more than 11,000 people have already benefited from the service of this mobile clinic. Through this recent collaboration with Apollo Victor Hospitals, Silver Star aims at providing services to a greater number of people in Goa.
Adv Valanka Alemao, who is a member of the advisory committee for Silver star, said that diabetes has become a very serious concern in today’s world with increasing stress levels.
MP Vaz said that the partnership with the Apollo hospital will take the prevention of diabetes and diabetes care to a new level. Dr. Robert D’ Costa commented, “We at Apollo Victor Hospitals believe that “Prevention begins with Awareness” We have dedicated the year 2013 to raising awareness about diabetes across the state and providing news and information about what diabetes is, important risk factors, how to prevent the disease, etc.”
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