Diabetes Care Programme for Elderly Launched by M.V. Hospital

M.V. Hospital for Diabetes, Royapuram, India launched a diabetes care programme for the elderly in commemoration of a decade of being a WHO collaborating centre for research, education and training. Dr.Vijay Viswanathan, Medical Director, M.V. Hospital for Diabetes said, “In March 2014, we launched a north Chennai diabetes control programme. Over the past year, we have realised how essential it is to reach out to senior citizens. Our field workers will go from door to door to identify diabetics among those aged 65 and above. We will guide them on their diet and medication.”

Dr. Viswanathan said the programme would focus on slums in north Chennai, and would later spill over to the southern part of the city.

“We will do blood sugar tests and send diabetics to the nearest government hospital, or, if they choose to come to our hospital, provide them treatment free of cost,” he said.

Health secretary J. Radhakrishnan said, while awareness about non-communicable diseases was on the rise, the elderly presented a peculiar challenge and providing facilities for them was essential.

Soumya Swaminathan, Director of the National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, delivered the Prof. M. Viswanathan DRC Gold Medal Oration. She emphasized that several studies showed the prevalence of diabetes in TB patients and vice versa, making it crucial to screen early.

Anil Kapoor, a board member of the World Diabetes Foundation, was presented with the Prof. M. Viswanathan Honour Award, 2015, on the occasion.

Source-Medindia