Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 7
In a rare show, seen in Nagaland, people young and old showed up in workout clothes to celebrate World Health Day with a ‘fitness party’. Instead of the usual lectures that are given, which fail to attract many people, today’s programme was hugely successful.
Doctors, Student Nurses, CIHSR Staff, representatives from the State Health Department were all joined by children from Kids Garden, school and college students and denizens of Dimapur in an innovative program where a “Zumba class” was held at the Football Ground of the Christian Institute of Health Sciences & Research (CIHSR).
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The program was organised by CIHSR and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Nagaland to observe the World Health Day 2016. The main goals of the World Health Day 2016 are to scale up prevention, strengthen care, and enhance surveillance to Diabetes.
India is the Diabetes capital of the world. The disease affects 350 million people worldwide and is expected to double in 20 years. Dr Sedevi Angami, CIHSR noted that Nagaland State especially has an epidemic of diabetes. And it has become a major problem because it’s a lifestyle disease. Addressing the attendees, he cited how earlier people used to walk to the Church and School but now nobody walks anymore. This problem has been compounded with the introduction of Cable TV and Dish TV. And this is why in Nagaland; we are prone to develop Diabetes, he said.
And because it’s a silent killer, most don’t even know they have Diabetes. Terming it as ‘starvation in the midst of plenty’, Dr. Sedevi pointed out that Diabetes is also called the disease of the plenty. He cited the example of how in Nagaland, people eat a lot of rice especially ‘Nagaland Special’ which is full of carbohydrates. He advised Nagas to start cutting down on unhealthy food habits like eating excess junk food and instead incorporate boiled vegetables, fruits etc.
Dr Sedevi explained that there are three main ways to control Diabetes. First, we should control our diet, take proper medicine, and exercise, he said. “A combination of good diet and medicine alone will probably not work. Exercise is extremely important, and once you reach the age of 40 to 50 it is difficult, so start young and don’t break the habit,” he advised.
Diabetes also causes a lot of complications. It is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, stroke, develop ulcers in the legs. Most of us are going to be Diabetic if we are not careful, he warned.
Dr. Abraham Joseph, Director of CIHSR also shared that when he started out as a Doctor, Diabetes and Hypertension was not a health issue. But now, it is becoming a major issue and a lot of people are getting affected by it. He also expressed hope that a program on Diabetes awareness would be organised at the community level.
“Today we are going to be taught how to beat Diabetes in a joyful and fun way. Please also take back this message of Diabetes awareness to your community”.
Dr Bendangyanger from the Department of Health & Family Welfare; and Dr Sao Tunyi, NPCDCS also participated in the program. Stalls were also set up by Novo Nordisk India Private Limited and Novartis Healthcare Pvt Ltd to create awareness on Diabetes care.
Exhilarating Zumba workout moves were taught by the instructors of Performance Art with Fitness (PAWF) Nagaland.
