NEW DELHI, Aug 17: Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh has called for making diabetes prevention a national priority, stressing the need for greater attention to the disease in rural India.
Singh made the remarks while virtually inaugurating the Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India (RSSDI) Diabetes Rural Outreach Digital Portal and launching VISHWAS, a digital video library focused on diabetes awareness.
The minister said the country’s approach should move beyond treating diabetes after diagnosis and place greater emphasis on preventing new cases and identifying the disease at an early stage.
He pointed out that diabetes is increasingly affecting rural communities, making it necessary to strengthen awareness and preventive healthcare services outside major urban centres.
Singh advocated a community driven approach supported by technology and reliable health data. Such measures, he said, can help improve awareness, encourage timely screening and support better management of the disease.
The launch of the rural outreach portal is aimed at strengthening access to information and healthcare resources for people living away from major medical facilities.
The minister also underlined the importance of preventive healthcare in addressing the country’s changing disease burden. Greater public awareness about lifestyle related risks, regular health checks and timely intervention can help reduce the long-term impact of diabetes.
The initiative comes amid growing concerns over the spread of diabetes beyond India’s urban population. Experts and health authorities have increasingly stressed early screening and community level intervention as important tools in tackling the disease.
With digital platforms becoming an important part of healthcare delivery, initiatives such as the rural outreach portal could help connect people with reliable information and encourage them to seek medical advice before complications develop.
