The Indian Government is launching a special programme next month for control and prevention of diabetes, a silent killer worldwide. The National Programme for Prevention of Diabetes and Cardiovascular Diseases will concentrate on spreading awareness about the disease and screen people for the life-threatening disease, Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said at a press conference here today.
Besides the prevention and promotional aspects, the programme would also train doctors and nurses in the specifics of the disease.
“India is all set to become the diabetes capital of the world. We have at present 25-30 million diabetics in the country and the number is going to touch 70-75 million within the next 15 years,” the health minister said.
The announcement for the new scheme comes on the eve of the international diabetes day tomorrow. Worldwide 3.2 million deaths are attributed to diabetes every year.
The latest WHO estimate shows that 177 million people are afflicted with diabetes around the globe.
— Article compiled by Dr. Vimmi from medical news release.