November 14th is observed as World Diabetes day. It brings together millions of people in over 160 countries to raise awareness of diabetes. World Diabetes Day unites the global diabetes community to produce a powerful voice for diabetes awareness. World Diabetes Day takes place on 14 November every year and is an official United Nations World Day.
Global Diabetes Walks are organized on World Diabetes Day all over the world to highlight the importance of physical activity to combat diabetes and other lifestyle diseases.
During 2009 and 2010, kNOW Diabetes organized two massive Global Diabetes walks in Pathanamthitta and Pandalam towns in Pathanmthitta district in which thousands of students, teachers and health workers participated. It attracted good media attention also.The Walk aims at motivating people to walk at least 30 minutes everyday .It is a part of the global campaign declared by WHO,IDF and the WDF
Global Diabetes Walks are organized on World Diabetes Day all over the world to highlight the importance of physical activity to combat diabetes and other lifestyle diseases.
During 2009 and 2010, kNOW Diabetes organized two massive Global Diabetes walks in Pathanamthitta and Pandalam towns in Pathanmthitta district in which thousands of students, teachers and health workers participated. It attracted good media attention also.The Walk aims at motivating people to walk at least 30 minutes everyday .It is a part of the global campaign declared by WHO,IDF and the WDF
Along with thousands of people who walk all over the world to raise awareness on diabetes students,teachers,parents and healthworkers of Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta,two districts in Kerala,South India also walk from 1st November to 14th November 2011.
Batches of 14 student volunteers lead the walk which start from Adoor Town in Pathanamthitta district in Kerala state , India on 2011 November 1st Tuesday at 9.30 am and cover 196 Kilometres in 14 days connecting 14 towns in Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts in Kerala. Thousands of Students teachers and health workers to join the walk at various centres .The walk will end with a massive Diabetes Walk at Alappuzha town in Alappuzha district at 9.30 am on 14th November, 2011.
The Walk will travel through 14 towns - 8 towns in Pathanmthitta ( Adoor,Pandalam, Pathanamthitta, Konni, Ranni, Kozhanchery,Mallappally and Thiruvalla) and 6 towns in Alappuzha (Changannur, Mavelikkara,Haripad,Kayamkualam,Ambalapuzha and Alappuzha ) districts.The Walk will cover about 200 kilometers and about 16000 persons are expected to join the Walk at various places.The walk will directly address about 60 schools and pass through about fifty grama panchayaths.
Batches of 14 student volunteers lead the walk which start from Adoor Town in Pathanamthitta district in Kerala state , India on 2011 November 1st Tuesday at 9.30 am and cover 196 Kilometres in 14 days connecting 14 towns in Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts in Kerala. Thousands of Students teachers and health workers to join the walk at various centres .The walk will end with a massive Diabetes Walk at Alappuzha town in Alappuzha district at 9.30 am on 14th November, 2011.
The Walk will travel through 14 towns - 8 towns in Pathanmthitta ( Adoor,Pandalam, Pathanamthitta, Konni, Ranni, Kozhanchery,Mallappally and Thiruvalla) and 6 towns in Alappuzha (Changannur, Mavelikkara,Haripad,Kayamkualam,Ambalapuzha and Alappuzha ) districts.The Walk will cover about 200 kilometers and about 16000 persons are expected to join the Walk at various places.The walk will directly address about 60 schools and pass through about fifty grama panchayaths.
Venue: Medical Trust Hospital Auditorium, Kulanada.
Topic: ‘Epidemiological Transition in Kerala and the Need for Preventive Programmes’.
Prof. C. R. Soman memorial one day Health Education Seminar was conducted on 13th November 2010 on the topic ‘Epidemiological Transition in Kerala and the Need for Preventive programmes’.The objective of the Seminar was to highlight the immediate need for addressing the prevention of and care for Diabetes and Other Lifestyle Diseases in the developing world, including cost-effective interventions that can be implemented immediately.
Topic: ‘Epidemiological Transition in Kerala and the Need for Preventive Programmes’.
Prof. C. R. Soman memorial one day Health Education Seminar was conducted on 13th November 2010 on the topic ‘Epidemiological Transition in Kerala and the Need for Preventive programmes’.The objective of the Seminar was to highlight the immediate need for addressing the prevention of and care for Diabetes and Other Lifestyle Diseases in the developing world, including cost-effective interventions that can be implemented immediately.
Professor C R Soman was a pioneer in research and awareness creation about lifestyle diseases. His studies into the growing prevalence as well as risk factors for diabetes in Thiruvananthapuram paved the way for establishing beyond doubt the growing menace of the problem. Later he gave leadership to the organization ‘Health Action by People’ to create a cohort in Varkala to continue research on lifestyle and health.
The Seminar was presided over by Dr V.Ramankutty, Professor, Achuthamenon Centre for Health Studies; Thiruvananthapuram.He delivered the Dr.C R Soman commemoration speech.The Seminar was inaugurated by the eminent Scientist Dr M P Parameswaran. Dr.G.Vijaya Kumar delivered the introductory speech. Former President of the District Panchayath Smt.Appinazhikathu Santhakumary, Dr.Sairu Philip, from the community medicine department of Allapuzha Medical College, Dr.Sasidharan –former deputy director of Health Service ,Dr.D Narayana, Prof Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram and Dr.PN Vidhyadharan, Programme Manager,NRHM presented papers in then Seminar.Prof.G.Dileep Kumar, Project Manager,kNOw Diabetes welcomed the guests.
The Seminar was presided over by Dr V.Ramankutty, Professor, Achuthamenon Centre for Health Studies; Thiruvananthapuram.He delivered the Dr.C R Soman commemoration speech.The Seminar was inaugurated by the eminent Scientist Dr M P Parameswaran. Dr.G.Vijaya Kumar delivered the introductory speech. Former President of the District Panchayath Smt.Appinazhikathu Santhakumary, Dr.Sairu Philip, from the community medicine department of Allapuzha Medical College, Dr.Sasidharan –former deputy director of Health Service ,Dr.D Narayana, Prof Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram and Dr.PN Vidhyadharan, Programme Manager,NRHM presented papers in then Seminar.Prof.G.Dileep Kumar, Project Manager,kNOw Diabetes welcomed the guests.
The school authorities organized 30 minutes’ walk in all these schools on 12th November as a part of the campaign to inspire the people to join the Global Diabetes walk on 14th November 2010.Pamphlets and other study materials were distributed among the students to educate them and their parents about the importance of World Diabetes Day and the Global Diabetes Walk. They were asked to organize Diabetes Walks with their family members and neighbours in the morning on 14th November and to make regular walk a habit.
Diabetes Walks were conducted at different places in Pathanamthitta District by various organizations and institutions from 6th to 14th November 2010 to spread the message of the ‘Global diabetes walk 2010’.
A massive Global Diabetes Walk was organized at Pandalam at 9.30 AM on 14th November and a public meeting followed. Thousands of volunteers participated in the event.The participants, besides a large number of students, included teachers,ASHA workers,NSS and NCC volunteers and other health workers.It wa flagged off be the veteran film actor Sri.Captain Raju.Prominent persons who led the Walk included The Honourable MP of Pathanamthitta Sri Anto Antony, MLA of Pandalam Sri.K.K.Shaju,Pandalam Gramapanchayath President,Adv.Prathapan,
Health and Education standing committee Chairman District Panchayath,Sri Pazhakulam Madhu,former President of the District Panchayath Smt.Appinazhikathu Santhakumary, District Medical Officer Dr Laila Divakar,Deputy Director of Education Sri T.P Sivaraman, Programme Manager NRHM,Dr. Vidyadharan ,various Grama panchayath Presidents and members of Panchayaths.
Following the Walk a Public Meeting was conducted in the NSS College Auditorium.The meeting which began at 10.30 was presided over by Pandalam Gramapanchayath President,Adv.Prathapan. Honourable MP of Pathanamthitta Sri Anto Antony inaugurated the meeting and the veteran film actor Sri.Captain Raju delivered the Keynote address.Walk to Health forums formed in 100 schools were inaugurated by Health and Education standing committee Chairman of Pathanamthitta District Panchayath,Sri. Pazhakulam Madhu. Former President of the District Panchayath Smt.Appinazhikathu Santhakumary gave the World Diabetes Day message and, Deputy Director of Education Sri T.P Sivaraman gave the Children’s Day message. Eminent persons from different walks of jife addressed the gathering.
- The project has initiated a campaign to start “Walk to Health forums” in all the high schools and higher secondary schools in Pathanamthitt district.
- As the first phase 100 forums are formed and they were inaugurated on 14th November 2010, World Diabetes Day Health and Education standing committee Chairman of Pathanamthitta District Panchayath,Sri. Pazhakulam Madhu.
- “Walk to Health forums” are expected to be formed in about 300 schools by the end of this academic year.
A minimum of 10 volunteers (preferably from std.VIII and Plus I) with a leader constitute a Forum. All the student volunteers will attend training camps on ‘prevention and control of diabetes and other lifestyle diseases’ within one year. A meeting of the leaders of the Forum volunteers will be held at regular intervals. Selected volunteers will be assigned specific activities to be organized in their schools every month like displaying Newsletters and posters, using the website forum for interaction etc.The volunteers will cooperate with Health clubs and Eco clubs in the schools to organise awareness classes and other activities. The central theme of the activities will be ‘prevention and control of diabetes and other lifestyle diseases’.