The number of people with diabetes in India has exceeded 60 million, and is expected to reach 100 million by 2030 (IDF, 2011). Sedentary lifestyles are leading to a dramatic rise in the obesity rates among children, which is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes. According to a 2011 survey by the Diabetes Foundation of India and the National Diabetes Obesity and Cholesterol Foundation, 3 out of every 10 children enrolled in private school in Delhi are obese. Government schools fared no better, and other states such as Ahmedebad, Lucknow, and Jaipur, showed similar results.The adolescent population as well as their parents are not aware of the relationship between obesity, diabetes, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, nor regular physical activity. The project partner conducted a preliminary survey, and found that 98% of children in rural areas, and 94% of children in urban areas in Thoubal had no awareness of diabetes. 74% of teachers also did not know about diabetes and how to prevent.There is limited access to care for diabetes with no facilities for diabetes care at the village or block level, but only at the district hospital at Thoubal. Thus far, no governmental effort has been made to sensitize children and parents on diabetes prevention.The goal of this project is to prevent obesity and diabetes among the school children and adolescents through awareness and lifestyle changes.
This project will be implemented in both the rural, semi-urban, and urban areas in three blocks in Thoubal district in Manipur. The activities will take three years and cover 100 out of 152 schools in the target area.22 out of 59 private schools and 78 out of 93 public schools in the area will receive training for 52,800 children and 25,400 parents. Seven training camps will be held at each of the target schools.The one day training camps will focus on basic concepts about diabetes and primary prevention, obesity and the consequences of obesity, diet and nutrition management, and the need for physical activity. The information will be disseminated to the parents, students, and teachers through posters, informational pamphlets, audio visual media, lectures, group discussions, group counselling, and Q&A. An expert team comprised of doctors and trained health workers will prepare the educational materials.At each awareness camp, twenty “at risk” parents and twelve “at risk” children will be screened using a glucose tolerance test. Over the course of three years, it is expected that 13,200 parents and 7.920 children will be screened.Three-day lifestyle modification training will be offered to 200 teachers and 400 parents. The parents will be selected among those whose children have been diagnosed with diabetes at the training camps, or among those parents that are themselves diagnosed with diabetes, and those who have expressed their interest in sustaining diabetes prevention programs. They will be trained on diabetes management, lifestyle modification, nutrition management, and diabetes prevention.Each year, all 93 of the public schools will observe World Diabetes Day (World Diabetes Day) on the 14th of November to create greater awareness about diabetes and prevention. A road show, cycle rally, and quiz competition will be used to garner more attention. It is expected that 100,000 people will be reached through these WDD activities.A newsletter will also be published annually on WDD. An editorial committee at each school will oversee the writing and publication of a diabetes newsletter by selected students. The newsletter will be published in the local language.In order to continue primary prevention, the project partner, a local NGO, will lobby the state government to include the basic concepts of diabetes prevention in the course material of life science courses in secondary schools.
• 660 awareness camps conducted• 52,112 children and 24,688 parents sensitized • 8,164 school children and 12,893 parents screened • 300 WDD campaigns conducted• Newsletter on diabetes and NCDs published