Rabindranath Tagore Surgical Centre launched Prayas-a diabetic clinic for underprivileged

This initiative by the unit of Narayana Health is to create awareness and help patients manage diabetes without compromising on their quality of life. Prayas Clinic will create awareness on prevention and early detection as well as manage diabetes with co-morbid diseases if any.

 

Diabetes camps for Prayas Clinic are held on the first Sunday of every month from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon at Rabindranath Tagore Surgical Center, Hiland Park. The diabetes screening will include investigations such as Fasting Blood Sugar, Hemoglobin and consultation with a specialist apart from eye check-up by an optometrist.

 

Patients found to have diabetes will be offered regular follow-up management, diagnostic services and doctor’s consultation at a nominal and subsidized rate. 

 

Such patients will be provided with an unique Prayas ID. The Clinic will eventually cover several districts of Bengal and neighboring states through outreach programs. 

 

Speaking about the launch of Prayas clinic, Dr. Mahua Dasgupta, Physician In-charge Diabetes Clinic and Paediatric Nutrition Clinic, at Rabindranath Tagore Surgical Centre said, “Diabetes is fast gaining the status of a potential epidemic in India. Currently there are 70 million diagnosed diabetics in India and a large number stay undiagnosed. Indians are genetically and environmentally predisposed to the development of heart disease and diabetes. Both are occurring at least a decade earlier among Indians, mostly around the age of 40-50 years, the prime time in working professional’s life. Therefore, it is important that the population has access to the right awareness programs and reliable screening methods. This is our effort to take such awareness programs into various strata of society in an attempt to prevent diabetes and its complications ”.

 

Also worryingly, diabetes is now occurring at a relatively younger age within the country and is spreading tentacles amongst school children, probably the most vital segment of the society - its future. 

 

It is extremely important that the healthcare sector takes adequate steps to ensure that the society is well informed about health hazards of diabetes and its management as well as prevention, a statement form the hospital claimed.