Two MoUs signed for Provision of Comprehensive Diabetic Care in Odisha

Two MoUs signed for Provision of Comprehensive Diabetic Care in Odisha

More than 382 million people world wide have diabetes. This number will probably be doubled by 2030 without intervention. Almost 80% of diabetes deaths occur in low and middle income countries. Diabetes kills one person in every 8 seconds. 4 million people die in a year from diabetes. 4 million lives are lost in one year, 1 million amputations are done in a year and millions of rupees are lost in income and productivity owing to this malicious disease. In India 63 million people suffer from diabetes. It is one-fifth of world’s burden. We stand at second position next to China. 50% of diabetic people are ignorant about the disease and they are detected at later stage with multiple complications. We are genetically predisposed to the disease. 9-12% of Indians in rural area and 12-15% in urban area are diabetic. At present health infrastructure is insufficient to tackle the menace. The prevalence of diabetes is increasing very fast both in urban and rural population in our State. If no control measures are taken now then the prevalence is going to be doubled in next 15 years. The cost of management of diabetes complications arising out untreated/uncontrolled diabetes is causing a huge burden to the patients, Government and society at large. To address the problems of diabetes the National Programme for Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases and stroke (NPCDCS) has been launched in Nuapada, Bolangir, Malkangiri, Koraput and Nabarangapur districts since 2011-12. Massive screening of general population for blood sugar and hypertension has been launched in these districts. 28 lakhs people have already been screened and more that 1.5 lakh persons with huge blood sugar have been detected. Now efforts are being taken to treat these persons after confirmation. But mobilisation of these persons to PHC, CHC and DHH for regular treatment is a big challenge before us. Further availability of trained personnel for diabetes management at primary and secondary system is also a challenge. With this backdrop, Government of Odisha signed a MoU today with Novo Nordisk Education Foundation (NNEF) to implement “Changing Diabetes Barometer” (CDB). This will roll out a diabetes control programme to reach out maximum no of people at primary and community level of Jagatsinghpur, Khurda, Nuapada and Bolangir districts and subsequently to other districts of the state. Further Diabetes being a multi organ disease, it affects heart, kidney, eye, nerves and feet and all other organs and delaying diagnosis leads to complications which are the major cause of suffering and economical loss for the people of the state. To address this problem, Government of Odisha signed another MoU with Kanungo Institute of Diabetes Specialities (KIDS) which will provide quality diabetes care by opening Diabetes Care Centres in 30 districts headquarters of the state. The District Diabetes Care centres by KIDS at district HQ will provide comprehensive services to people with diabetes to referred cases in affordable price. Both the MoUs have been signed by Sri Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra, Principal Secretary, Health & Family Welfare and Mr. Melvin Oscar D’Souza, Managing Trustee, NNEF and Dr. Alok Kanungo, Chairman, KIDS, Bhubaneswar in presence of Dr. Damodar Rout, Minister Health and Family Welfare & MSME. It may be mentioned that the overall objectives of these two interventions will generate public awareness for diabetes, early detection through community level screening, improve the standard of diabetes management at primary and Secondary level health institutions in the state by capacity building of the Government Healthcare System and thus reduce the complications associated with uncontrolled diabetes and ultimately reducing a huge cost burden to individuals, Government and society at large.