Bhubaneswar: Awareness and prevention hold the key to combating the growing burden of diabetes, which has emerged as one of the most serious public health challenges of our time, remarked Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati Sunday.
Inaugurating the 13th annual conference of Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India (RSSDI), Odisha Chapter, at SCB Medical College, Cuttack, Kambhampati urged all sections of society to adopt healthier lifestyles and work together to build a culture of health consciousness.
“Diabetes is a silent epidemic that not only affects individuals but also places a heavy burden on families, communities, and the economy.
Its complications, ranging from cardiovascular diseases and kidney failure to vision loss and neuropathy, demand urgent and comprehensive attention,” the Governor said.
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He stressed that while advances in medical science, such as artificial intelligence, digital health technologies, new therapies, and personalised medicine are reshaping diabetes care, prevention remains the most effective strategy.
“Balanced nutrition, regular exercise, stress management, and timely check-ups can significantly reduce risks. Schools, colleges, workplaces, civil society, and the media must come together to promote health awareness,” Kambhampati added.
Drawing a parallel with India’s success in eradicating polio, he said a similar collective spirit is required to fight diabetes.
He also appreciated national and state-level initiatives such as the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS), while calling for stronger collaboration among healthcare providers, researchers, and community organisations to ensure that quality healthcare reaches every corner of the state.
Among others, Apollo Hospital, Hyderabad senior consultant physician Dr CH Vasanth Kumar, RSSDI Odisha’s patron Dr Siddhartha Das, chairman Dr Ramesh Kumar Goenka and secretary Dr Suresh Kumar Bansal spoke on the occasion.
PNN
