ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY DR.K.ROSAIAH, GOVERNOR OF TAMIL NADU AT THE ANNUAL DAY AND WORLD
DIABETES DAY CELEBRATIONS AT HOTEL LE ROYAL MERIDIEN, CHENNAI ON 9/11/2014 AT 6.30 P.M.
It is a pleasure to participate in the Annual Day and World Diabetes Day Celebrations and
address this distinguished gathering here this evening.
At the outset I congratulate Prof. Dr. A.Ramachandran’s Diabetes Hospitals & India Diabetes
Research Foundation for joining hands to celebrate the World Diabetes Day. World Diabetes
Day is observed on November 14 every year to mark the birthday of Frederick Banting who
along with Charles Best, first conceived the idea which led to the discovery of insulin in 1922.
It also indicates and cautions us on the arising incidence of diabetes and on the need of
preventative measures to be taken to curtail many getting affected by diabetes.
Identification of factors which influence prevalence of diabetes is necessary to address
the challenges caused due to Diabetes. I am told that the prevalence of diabetes in rural
population is one-quarter that of urban population in India.
The aetiology of diabetes in India is multifactorial and is influenced to a great extent by
genetic factors coupled with environmental influences such as obesity, rising living standards,
steady urban migration, and lifestyle changes.
I am pleased to learn that the World Diabetes Day 2014 campaign marks the first of a threeyear -2014 -2016 with a focus on healthy living and diabetes. Observing World Diabetes Day is
not a customary one. It should aim at sensitizing the people on the importance of preventing
diabetes among those prone to high risk and also on managing diabetes to avoid complications
later in life.
Studies reveal that worldwide, there are 382 million people living with diabetes and by 2035,
592 million people or one person in every ten will have diabetes. It is alarming that in India alone
65 million people live with diabetes and it is predicted to increase to more than a 100 million by
2030. The increasing incidence of diabetes causes a major concern due to increased health
care expenditure, complications and rising death rates which create several societal
implications.
Creation of awareness, prevention and early diagnosis play a key role to combat this global
catastrophe. Sedentary jobs, lack of physical exercise, high calorie and spicy food, have been
the root cause for various diseases. Diabetes is the gate way to many diseases.
I congratulate Prof. Ramachandran and his team in instituting a foundation primarily for
the cause of diabetes, to improve research on diabetes, to educate on diabetes and to treat
diabetes. The initiatives taken by him to prevent diabetes in India are laudable.
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I am pleased to learn that the institution has been conducting awareness programmes and
screening camps for early detection and prevention of diabetes so as to increase awareness on
diabetes among the public. Creation of awareness about diabetes its early detection and control
is imperative. I am happy to learn that to inculcate awareness about diabetes and lifestyle
diseases in young children ‘Health Promotion through School Teachers Programme’ was jointly
organized with Department of School Education, Government of Tamil Nadu and the project has
trained about 1000 higher secondary school teachers from Government and Private Schools in
Chennai and Thiruvallur District. I am told that the teachers in turn would educate 100 children
each from their schools and this training would reach 1,00,000 school students and their
families. It is a welcome one.
It is estimated that about 77.2 million people in India are suffering from pre-diabetes who are
at a high risk of getting diabetes. Developing of strong strategies and networking with medical
fraternity and voluntary organization is necessary to address this epidemic.
Diabetes mellitus is a fast spreading epidemic in India. The level of morbidity and mortality
due to diabetes and its complications are enormous and pose significant healthcare burden on
families and society. What is worrying is that this is now highly prevalent across all sections of
society. What one needs is a drive for urgent research and intervention - at regional and
national levels - to try to mitigate the catastrophic increase in diabetes in the coming years.
I commend the initiatives taken by the India Diabetes Research Foundation for training more
than 4000 doctors, 800 health educators and 5,000 paramedical personnel from 17 states over
a period of 7 years. I am happy to learn that the institution has been a preferred centre in South
India by the World Diabetes Foundation for conducting training programmes as a part of
capacity building programme of Government of India to improve the health care for diabetes in
the country.
I convey my warm felicitations to Professor A. Ramachandran and his dedicated team and
wish them all success in their mission to prevent Diabetes.
My greetings to you all.
Jai Hind.
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