Latest update April 24th, 2024 12:51 AM
Nov 12, 2014 News
– officials emphasise importance of screening
Although it characterised an early start to the commemoration of World Diabetes Day,
the Campbellville Health Centre experienced heightened activity yesterday as efforts were made to raise awareness about the medical condition of diabetes.
World Diabetes Day is usually celebrated on November 14 annually and is therefore set to be observed globally on Friday.
The activities yesterday to observe the day at the Health Centre, which falls under the purview of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), entailed several awareness presentations by medical experts and dental check-ups to which patients were exposed. Several students and members of the public were able to access free dental check-ups as part of the observance yesterday.
Speaking to this publication yesterday doctor-in-charge of the health facility, Dr. Kampta Prashad, said that a deliberate move was made to observe World Diabetes Day a few days early as part of its Chronic Disease Clinic which is usually held on Tuesday.
“Basically what we are doing is educating and making our patients aware of what diabetes is and what are the complications,” said Dr. Prashad.
Patients yesterday were informed of ophthalmologic complications that can result because of diabetes as they were of the importance of foot care which ranged from the types of shoes one should wear and the need for proper diet and exercise. Added to this, the Pharmacy department of the health facility also had a role yesterday in showcasing the various types of medications to cater to diabetes, and patients were informed of the consequences if the use of medication is not strictly adhered to.
“Dealing with diabetes means you have to concentrate on three main things and these are exercise, diet and medication,” said Dr. Prashad who noted that it was for this reason that efforts were made to particularly raise awareness in this regard.
Currently, close to 800 of the 4,000-odd patients seen at the Campbellville Health Centre are diabetics and there is always a possibility of that number increasing every day, according to Senior Health Visitor Nalini Dass.
Nurse Dass explained that as part of the commemoration, efforts are being made to amplify the need not only for persons to be aware of the condition but also to know that treatment is available.
“Once they can identify that there is diabetes and know that there is care and treatment for it, that is an important thing for them…and all this can follow after diabetic foot screening, random blood sugar testing, and checking your blood glucose level,” Nurse Dass related yesterday.
The observance of World Diabetes Day was brought into being, according to Dr. Prashad, because of the growing number of persons who were found to be affected by diabetes. He too emphasised the importance of screening, even as he pointed out that “even persons who appear to be in good health need to be screened…they need to come out and be screened on a yearly basis; they need to be aware that this is a condition that is out there and anyone can be walking around with it and they can come in and do simple tests,” noted Dr. Prashad.
He pointed out too that while there are symptoms with which the virus can manifest, these symptoms may not always be recognised as that relating to diabetes. Some symptoms could include: hunger, tiredness, weight loss, inching of the skin, recurring yeast and other infections. “With these symptoms, people may not think diabetes, they might be thinking something else, so it is important that people become aware of what are some of the symptoms they can present with, even if you are healthy,” said Dr. Prashad. And a check-up is especially important, he noted, if persons have a family history of diabetes.
All diabetic patients are treated at the Health Centre, save and except for those who develop complications such as a non-healing ulcer or those who are required to be admitted and administered intravenous medication. Such persons are referred to the Diabetic Foot Centre at the GPHC.
“Once we see things that we can’t handle…things that we don’t have the instruments to deal with…sometimes they might need a bone debridement…we take them over to the hospital and that can be done right at the emergency room there before they are sent back to us,” said Dr. Prashad.
As part of its effort to combat Diabetes, the Campbellville Health Centre has been offering extended hours, during which members of the public could access screening for diabetes. The extended hours are on Tuesdays from 16:00 – 20:00 hours and on Saturday 08:00 – 12:00 hours. Normal operating hours at the Health Centre are 08:00 hours to 16:00 hours daily.
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