07 March 2011
Pune, India
Identifying diabetes as a major challenge and awareness a crucial tool to combat it, Emcure Pharmaceuticals has joined hands with the National Diabetes Obesity and Cholestrol Foundation (N–DOC) to launch a project to increase awareness on diabetes and obesity.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director, Emcure Pharmaceuticals, Satish Mehta, launching the campaign, Dishaa, in Pune on Saturday said the programme will cover cities across India and the organisation would sensitise people about the disease and take measures to reduce recurrence.
President, N–DOC, Anoop Misra painted a grim picture of diabetes in India. He said the disease was now catching people younger and around 2 lakh amputations had been carried out in diabetics in India. Citing data, Misra, also the Director, Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Fortis (Delhi), stressed increasing diabetes awareness. He said awareness was poor, in particular among the lower strata of society. "Ninety percent of people among the lower socio–economic strata have poor awareness about the disease. Around 20–75 percent among the upper and middle sections of society are aware of the disease," he said.
Misra said that over 50,000 schoolchildren aged over 10 years in 50 cities across India will be educated about diabetes over a period of 18 months. Dr Misra added that the level of abdominal obesity among women was more acute than men.
He said 75 percent women and 58 percent of men in India have abdominal obesity.
Former cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar was the chief guest on the occasion. He stressed encouraging sporting habits.
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