Kerala is facing a huge challenge these days in the form of growing incidence of diabetes.It’s one disease that has not only put immense burden on the state's health care delivery sector but is also eating into the health care budget.
Kerala has now begun a unique campaign in its capital, in the wake of acquiring the dubious status of being the epicentre of the country's diabetic population. Some estimates say close to Rs 5000 crore are spent each year to treat diabetes in the state, whose annual budget is just a little higher at Rs 5600 crore.
"The government is more concerned with preventing infectious diseases like Malaria and TB. But considering the complications, death and expenditure it is thousand times more complicated," said Dr Jothy Dev, Diabetologist.
Alarming riseWhile there has been no official survey on the prevalence of diabetes in Kerala, unofficial estimates say 17 per cent of the state's population is affected.The reasons are a rapidly changing life style and a growing geriatric population.
Fifty years ago, the life expectancy of a Malayalee, which was 55, are now 75 for men and is even higher for women. But the disease is also increasing alarmingly among people 30 to 40 year olds."It may be true there are genetic features. But Kerala has got high literacy rate and combined with the inactivity and food with rich fat people are prone to the disease," said Dr Jothy Dev."
Often people come to know about diabetes at a very late stage because of serious ailments. But it can be treated if we come to know early. So awareness campaigns are essential," said Bindu, health activist.Clearly then, Kerala requires mass campaigns to prevent and treat diabetes which is threatening to derail the state's health care sector.
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