OWEN BERNARD, executive director of the Diabetes Association of Jamaica (DAJ) Outreach Programme, has said that there was a need to heighten public awareness regarding diabetes due to the high prevalence of the disease in Jamaica.
Speaking to JIS News, the Executive Director said that the DAJ was doing its part in implementing prevention programmes, however, there was still a need for more prevention programmes coupled with proper access to health care and education, to curb the number of persons affected by the disease.
BECOME MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION
With the observance of Diabetes Week from November 10 to 15, Mr. Bernard, said that the DAJ would use the occasion to further heighten awareness about the disease as well as encourage diabetics to become members of the association.
"We are encouraging persons to become members of the association because it is a one stop shop. Everything that relates to diabetes management is located at the DAJ under one roof, from dialysis to laser therapy," the Executive Director noted, adding that the association was the only one of its kind in the Caribbean.
Under the theme, 'Diabetes Could Cost You Your Kidneys: Act Now', there will be a series of activities and events in observance of the special week.
In observance of World Diabetes Day which is being observed today, a diabetes education session will take place in the community. "We will be targeting persons like nurses, teachers and members of the security forces to teach them about diabetes management," Mr. Bernard said.
The process involves testing persons on their knowledge of diabetes and then educating them regarding nutrition, and foot care, among other topics. Persons are retested in order to discern their level of understanding of the topics. Successful candidates are then certified as lay diabetes facilitators, who will then go out into the community to teach and help diabetics manage their disease.
The week will culminate with a health fair on the grounds of the DAJ on November 15 beginning at 9:00 a.m.
