Five years ago, the very progressive Goa state had signed a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with Sanofi India Limited (SIL) to initiate an education and awareness programme about diabetes, its better management as well as healthy living amongst school children. Together with Conexus Social Responsibility Foundation, Sanofi India is implementing this programme across Goa, stated a press release.
Through this Social Impact collaboration, Sanofi India’s team of medical experts and local leading diabetologists have been educating and upskilling the state department’s healthcare personnel serving the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) cell; and the Medical Officers of the Health and Wellness centers. Till date, 1670 teachers and principals, and 150,000 children across 470 schools in Goa have been sensitised about diabetes – its prevalence and better management, as well as the benefits of healthy living. Alongside, the Directorate of Health Services also partners Sanofi India to run its international programme KiDS (Kids and Diabetes in School), to raise awareness about Type 1 diabetes amongst school children.
The need of the hour is to make diabetes education memorable enough to inspire children to adopt a healthy lifestyle, namely food with less sugar and daily exercise.
Campaigns like Sakhar Free Shukrawar, STEP and Diabthlon were conceptualised to foster healthier choices amongst children and adults of Goa in innovative, memorable, and fun ways.
‘Sakhar Free Shukrawar’ (SFS) – a unique cooking competition amongst school children who create recipes that substitute sugar with healthier options like fig, date, honey etc. – inculcates healthy food choices amongst school children. In Season 3 of SFS this year, the competition received 2000+ applications from across 240 schools, of which 100 were shortlisted and 10 competed in the Finale. STEP – an app-based fitness program that urges participants to clock 10,000 steps each day received 28,000 registrations from over 240 schools in Goa.
Today, a brand-new initiative called Diabthlon has been launched. Diabthlon is a one-stop, day long marathon of food, fitness, and facts on better diabetes management. At this event, participants will learn the importance of regular blood-sugar testing, understand diabetes facts, and dispel myths, and experience a variety of healthy food and exercise options.
Aparna Thomas, Senior Director of Corporate Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility, Sanofi India Limited, says:“It is vital that we curb the rising diabetes epidemic and obesity in India with innovative learning and awareness interventions like Sakhar Free Shukrawar, STEP and Diabthlon. These initiatives have been designed to inspire sustainable lifestyle changes amongst children. Sanofi India’s public-private partnership with Goa’s Department of Health (Govt. of Goa) has helped make this program robust and large scale.”
Dr. Prashant Suryawanshi, State Epidemiologist and State surveillance officer for Goa, says: “Goa’s population is facing diabetes-related issues that are growing at an alarming rate. A recent ICMR study shows that Goa has a weighted prevalence of 26.4% of people living with diabetes, whereas 31.3% are pre-diabetic. Therefore, it is imperative to educate children about obesity and diabetes so that they understand the benefits of eating right and exercising regularly to stay physically fit and keep diseases at bay.”
