Diabetes Walk 2009

Global Diabetes Day commemorations-2009

International Diabetes day falls on 14′h November. As a disease expanding in epidemic proportions, diabetes mellitus has drawn in a huge amount of interest from policy makers as well as the general public all over the world. The Sri- Lankan situation is not very different with diabetes affecting one in ten adults over 20 years and one in five in the urban areas. Diabetes is no longer a disease of the elderly, with it increasingly being diagnosed in younger populations. Many studies have shown that South Asians have a particularly higher risk of developing diabetes and is compounded by the declining age of onset of the disease. The sedentary life style, lack of exercise, unhealthy dietary habits and being overweight are few of the modifiable risk factors for diabetes mellitus which can be avoided with education and committed effort, resulting in prevention of the onset of the disease. The hazards of diabetes are many: it has become a leading cause of renal failure, loss of vision and loss of limbs. Diabetes also predispose to coronary heart diseases and strokes more commonly in the younger ages. Recent studies conducted in Sri Lanka have shown that diagnosed patients with diabetes who are in their thirties also suffer from serious complications involving the heart, nervous system, kidney and eyes. Therefore educating the younger population regarding the disease and its prevention is essential.

In keeping with the need of the day, the Diabetes Research Unit, Department of Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine, Colombo along with “Tharunyata Hetak Foundation” organized a major campaign - “Diabetes Walk 2009″ held on Sunday, 15th November 2009 .The walk will commenced from the Colombo Municipal Council grounds and finished at the Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha. The mini-exhibition was also held at the side of the Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha.

The Main objectives of this event were,

1) Creating Awareness on Diabetes and its Prevention.
2) Form a fund for future research in “Diabetes and Metabolism”
3) Liaise efficiently with International institutions by serving as an annual calendar event.

The event was graced by Hon. Nimal Siripala De Silva, Minister of Health Care and Nutrition as the Chief Guest. Mr. Namal Rajapaksa, Chairman, “Tharunyata Hetak” also joined as the Guest of Honour,

Following distinguished guests also joined the walk extending their support for this worthy cause.

Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama,(Vice Chancellor - University of Colombo), Prof Rizvi Sheriff (Chairman- Post Graduate Institute of Medicine), Prof. Harsha Seneviratne (Dean Faculty of Medicine ,Colombo)

Prof Chandrika Wijeratne (Consultant Physician), Prof. Rohan Jayasekara(Consultatnat Genetic Sciences),Dr.Constantine (Consultant Cardiologist), Mr. Lalith Piyum Perera (General Secretary “Tharunyata Hetak”) Dr. Prasad Katulanda,(Consultant Endocrinologist), Dr. P. Panapitiya (Director- Non Communicable Diseases of the Ministry of Health), Dr. Chula Senaratne(Cheif Medical Coordinator– “Tharunyata Hetak”)

Following “Ambassadors for Diabetes Walk ” also participated,

Mr.Sanath Jayasuriya, Mr. Akalanka Ganegama, Mr. Dushmanth Weeraman, Mr.Chaminda Vass, Mr. Eraj Weeraratne, Ms. Natasha Jayasuriya.

This mega-event also brought together a large cross section of the general public including members of the Armed Forces, Department of Police and Civil Security Force, School Children, Medical Students and Professionals, Officials from the Ministries of Health and Education, Institutions providing related medical care, Celebrities and Politicians in addition to a host of other government/private institutions.

Diabetes Walk 2009

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