Choolaimedu Exnora Innovators Club and Aruna Diabetes Centre celebrated World Diabetes Day by organising a free sugar screening and Diabetes awareness camp at Egmore and Nungambakkam Railway Stations on 11 and 14 November, respectively.
S R Vijaya Kumar, Member of Parliament (Central Chennai) inaugurated the camp at Egmore Station and Naveen Gulati, Divisional Railway Manager (Chennai Division), inaugurated the same at Nungambakkam and appreciated the activity towards creating the awareness on the diseases among the public.
According to Dr A Panneer Selvam, president of Choolaimedu Exnora Innovator’s Club and the Director of Aruna Diabetes Centre, “Around 750 persons were tested at Egmore and around 1000 persons availed the facilities at Nungambakkam.”
Panneerselvam, along with Dr P T Prabakar, Dr P Arunkumaran, and Dr Sakthivelan conducted the tests and offered medical consultations depending on test results.
“This sugar screening camp is aimed to detect diabetes early and create an awareness among people. Of those who got tested in the two camps, 70 per cent of the participants were already diabetic patients, while five per cent were new cases.
They were advised suitably to control their diets,” he said. Member, Zonal and Divisional Railway Users Consultative Committee, Rakesh Bhansali, Sr. Dy. Commercial Manager Southern Railway, R Sathya Narayanan Hari, N Jeyavenkatesan Station Director, Egmore, Redsun C Ambigapathy, Ex. Councillor were among others who participated.
“We are the only organisation to have celebrated World Diabetic Day by organising two sugar screening camps in public spaces,” said Secretary of the Exnora Innovators club, Kasturi Rangan.
“With this kind of massive sugar screening campaigning, we wanted everyone to be aware of the sugar problem, the impact it has and sensitise them on this issue. Choolaimedu Exnora wants to reach out to more individuals,” he added.