Team Herald
PANJIM: With the State marching towards the red zone with 9.2 % of the population diagnosed with diabetes, Goa Government will be rolling out state-wide diabetes testing programs for adults for early detection and treatment. Government is also looking forward towards digitizing its diabetic registry, which will help the doctors to track patients’ progress.
After a gap of ten years, the Directorate of Health Services on Thursday re-launched ‘Changing Diabetes Barometer (CDB) Programme” along with the Novo Nordisk Education Foundation, with a focus on to provide comprehensive diabetes care to over three lakh people, having the ailment.
The idea was initially mooted way back in 2008, wherein free medical treatment was given to the diabetic patients. Under the programme, total 15 community diabetes centers (CDCs) would be set up, will provide free anti-diabetic treatment and medicines, home visits from ANMs and diabetes counselors and distribution of relevant diabetes educational literature at all government hospitals and primary health care centres.
Addressing the gathering, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said that it is very alarming as Goa’s diabetes detection is much above the national average. “We are moving towards the red zone. Total 9.2 percent of population is having diabetes. The sedentary lifestyle, food and cultural habits have made Goans prone to developing diabetes,” he said.
He said that government is committed to deliver quality health care services for all citizens of the State. “We will be rolling out state-wide diabetes testing programme for all adults over the age of 30 years for early diagnosis of diabetes,” Minister said.
Rane claimed that the step will help in reducing the disease burden in the State and change the health profile of the citizens.
According to the National Health Family Survey-4, the incidence of diabetes in Goa was found to be higher than the national average.
Speaking at the launch, Ambassador of Danish Embassy to India Peter Taksoe-Jensen said that Denmark has close to 100 years of experience in fighting diabetes. “Through this initiative, we support the government of Goa for better advocacy and awareness campaigns in the State against diabetes,” he said.
The Ambassador said that they will be supporting the training and educational initiatives for healthcare professionals, including diabetes educators who will work towards creating awareness among general public about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. “The move will also help in brining Denmark and Goa more closer,” he said.
Earlier, Novo Nordisk Education Foundation managing trustee Mevlvin D’Souza said that diabetes is an emergency in slow motion and it needs to be prevented from complications, which many at times lead to death. “it is important for likeminded groups to act collectively on the challenges involved. We are committed to the cause of changing diabetes,” he said.
D’Souza said that as a part of Changing Diabetic Barometer there is a need for a focused and clear cut effort to bring the importance of diabetes treatment to the fore, give it attention on a national platform and make it part of government and administrative polices.
