Shri Kadakampally Surendran, Hon’ble Minister for Tourism
and Devaswom,Dr. Georgi Abraham, Consultant Nephrologist,
Dr. R.C. Sreekumar, Chairman, Association of Surgeons of
India- Kerala Chapter,
Dr. Jothydev Kesavadev, Kesavadev Trust
Dr. Shaukat Sadikot, President, Diabetes India,
Dr. John Pickup, Professor, Kings College, London,
Dr. K.K. Manojan, Director, Sree Gokulam Medical College,
Ms. Gopika Krishnan, Academic Head, JDC Group of
Institutions, Kerala,
Dr. A. Muruganathan, Winner of the Stalwart Physician Award,
Dr. R.M Anjana, Winner of the young Researcher Award,
Dear Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good Morning to all.
I am very happy to inaugurate the 6th Annual Global Diabetes Convention organized by Kesavadev Trust and Jothydev’s Professional Education Forumin association with International Diabetes Federation.
Let me at the outset, compliment Dr. Jothydev and his team for organizing this Convention, which hopes to introduce new learning styles and a platform for interaction among doctors, medical students, dieticians and allied health care professionals so that they gain new knowledge and use it in their clinical practice.
This conference attains great significance in the light of India being described as the Diabetes capital of the world. The estimate is that nearly seventy million people are suffering from Diabetes in India and that it is the largest number in the world. It is also sad that a large number of people are living with diabetes, blissfully unaware of it since they have not made any effort to detect the disease. Today, India is known to have more people with Type-2 diabetes.
The World Health Organization's estimate that 80 percent of diabetes deaths occur in low and middle-income countries also merits mention here. Besides, their projection that such deaths will double by around 2030 should compel us to take diabetes very seriously. We also know that Diabetes has been recognized as the originator of many killer diseases involving kidney, heart, brain and the eyes. Recent studies have linked Dementia to Diabetic conditions.
As a disease seriously affecting the health economics
of the country, it is high time we fight Diabetes through structured efforts that include screening, treatment, management and above all creation of proper awareness.
Though a perfect and complete cure has not been devised yet, the advances in the treatment of Diabetes fill our minds with hope. For instance, we have been hearing of an oral substitute to insulin for some time. Many such advances may not have reached the marketable stage, but information about such achievements should reach the medical fraternity and people at large. It is here that the efforts of P. Kesavadev Trust and Jothydev’s Professional Education Forum in organizing this conference becomes truly laudable.
Diabetes is a disease where patients and the diabetes team consisting of doctors, nurses, dieticians and educators need periodic training. Many patients are reluctant to adhere to a strict routine of screening and diet control. We also hear many people complain about the high cost incurred at various steps of screening, diagnosis, monitoring, and management of the disease. Hence, it is important to work on more cost-effective methods of diabetes care. I have been informed that the concept of Tele-Management in Diabetes introduced by
Dr. Jothydev Kesavadev is a cost-effective methodology, effective in preventing the long term complications such as loss of limb, blindness, dialysis etc. These efforts to drastically bring down the future cost of therapy deserves our appreciation.
I would like to inform the delegates from outside Kerala that our Health Policy envisages a reduction of the incidence of blindness due to diabetic retinopathy by 25% by the year 2020. I would request the experts present here to give their inputs to our doctors on how best we can reduce the incidence even further. Another matter of grave concern is the increasing incidence of diabetes in children. I am told that
P. Kesavadev Trust has also been providing free medications including insulin pumps to deserving children and youngsters with Type-1 diabetes and providing free therapy to hundreds of economically challenged patients with diabetes. We need more agencies to come forward with such gestures.
I also take this opportunity to congratulate Dr. ArumugamMuruganathanand Dr. Anjana Ranjit Mohan on being honoured today.
Dr. Arumugam Muruganathan is known to me since many years. A globally reputed physician and winner of the prestigious Dr. B. C. Roy Award, he has donated more than 5000 Blood Pressure monitors across the country, free of cost. I am happy that he has received the Jothydev’s Professional Education Forum Stalwart Physician Award today.
The award presented to Dr. Anjana Ranjit Mohan calls to our mind the importance of original research on Diabetes. It is well known that at present, the volume of research carried out on Diabetes in India is not very high. By conferring a Young Researcher Award, we are rightly encouraging young researchers from among doctors, scientists and nutritionists to pursue their studies on Diabetes.
When we talk of research, we should encourage research in other streams of Medicine also. It is worth remembering that our Western Ghats is home to over 7000 varieties of medicinal herbs and that we still have not utilized the full potential of this plant wealth. We could utilize it through collaborative interdisciplinary research. The researchers in Medicine could also cooperate with non-medical universities that carry out research in this area.
I once again greet all the speakers and reputed Faculty Members who are sharing their wisdom and knowledge in this Conference. I would specifically mention stalwarts like
Dr. John Pickup and Dr. Richard Donnelly from UK,
Dr. Robert Vigersky and Dr. Sunder Mudaliar from USA and thank them for their presence.
I compliment the organizers for their persistent efforts in organizing diabetes related scientific conventions and in conducting this meeting in a befitting manner.
Jai Hind
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