Fundraiser 2026: Bridging care gaps for marginalised communities in urban Bengaluru, India

WDF’s newly launched 2026 fundraiser India, “Beyond Clinics: Building a Community‑Anchoured Diabetes and Hypertension Care Continuum for Urban and Peri‑urban Marginalised Groups,” aims to bring care closer to those who face the greatest barriers to access.

Over 18 months, the project will be rolled out by the Karnataka Health Promotion Trust (KHPT), in close collaboration with the Greater Bengaluru Authority, the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka, and local community‑based organisations.

India is experiencing a sharp rise in type 2 diabetes and hypertension (HTN), with urban and peri‑urban communities increasingly affected. DM cases are expected to increase from 89 million in 2024 to 156 million by 2050, and an estimated 43% of people with diabetes remain undiagnosed. DM and HTN present significant risks, particularly within urban and peri‑urban populations like those in Bengaluru. Over 20% of adults in Bengaluru are affected by diabetes, and vulnerable groups such as daily‑wage workers and migrants are disproportionately impacted. Stigma and limited access to healthcare contribute to delayed diagnosis and costly complications, often representing nearly a quarter of a person’s income after diagnosis.

There is an urgent need to provide diabetes and hypertension prevention, education, screening, and long‑term care directly to underserved communities.

The fundraiser aims to establish a scalable DM–HTN care model at Roopena Agrahara Urban Primary Health Centre, focusing on vulnerable adults over 30 in urban and peri‑urban Bengaluru, bringing care closer to marginalised communities.

Peer educators will lead outreach and community sessions to promote early screening, reduce stigma, and encourage healthy behaviours. The initiative also strengthens primary health teams through targeted training to provide inclusive care, focusing on hard‑to‑reach groups via peer education, digital outreach, and mobile screening camps. Healthcare teams receive training on government protocols and AI‑enabled follow‑up systems to support equitable, responsive care.

By integrating peer‑led outreach, community involvement, and facility support, the project creates a comprehensive care continuum for diabetes and hypertension beyond clinic walls.

Key outputs

• At least 7,000 households (population ~26,500) in vulnerable situations reached for community screening and early diagnosis.

• Improved treatment adherence and metabolic control, reducing DM and HTN‑related complications.

• Strengthened community engagement and health‑facility responsiveness through participatory mechanisms and 120 community support‑group sessions in collaboration with Mahila Arogya Samitis and Self‑Help Groups.

• Enhanced capacity of frontline health workers, community facilitators, and institutional staff in DM-HTN prevention, screening, and management.