A Compilation

Diabetes

Prevention

Initiatives

» 35 Cities through on ground activities

» 124 Cities through media

» 400 million People of India*

» 10 million People with Diabetes*

» 50,000 at Risk People

» 20,000 Doctors

» 200+ Prominent Monuments & Buildings lit up in Blue

» Over 25,000 Houses lit up in Blue* *Estimated

Diabetes is fast gaining the status of epidemic in India with over 62 million suffering from the disease

and its many complications. Diabetes is a silent killer. Hence, many people remain unaware of their

high sugar levels and its implications till a serious complication surfaces. Despite being dangerously

close to becoming the world’s diabetes capital, most Indians remain unaware of the dangers of

diabetes. The level of morbidity and mortality due to diabetes and its potential complications are

enormous, and pose significant healthcare burdens on families, society and the Indian economy as

well. Alarmingly, diabetes and its associated complications have now started occurring in a relatively

younger population. Sedentary lifestyle is a major reason behind this

At HEAL Foundation, we believe that awareness is empowerment. Hence, since the past 5 years we

have been working continuously to communicate with the masses to inform and educate them about

the perils of diabetes. Our focus is on prevention and management of the disease. Over the years, we

have initiated various programs to help the masses gauge the severity of the disease and help diabetes

patients to control and manage their condition.

Below is a snapshot of the various kinds of activities we have done in the past 5 years.

Diabetes screening drives

Engaging doctors

Digital contests

Perception surveys Counseling of masses

Initiating discussions with policy makers

Summits engaging experts for

deliberations

Reaching out to masses through

cultural associations

Creating information modules for

patients/ care givers

Breaking religious barriers to spread

awareness

Signature blue illuminations of

landmarks

Infotaining activities Media engagement

Engaging stakeholders across

country

Spreading awareness through radio and

print

On ground collateral for high recall

Our Philosophy Any program is successful if its impact is long term and sustainable. Hence, we believe in aiming

towards initiating behaviour change in the masses for betterment of the entire society and the

generations to come.

We have always been very sensitive towards the worsening diabetes situation in the country. Hence,

our efforts in the space of diabetes education and awareness have been many over the past decade.

But since the past 5 years, we have organised our efforts better to lead to better results.

We also brought the globally renowned concept of blue colour for diabetes to India. Blue is the global

colour representing the fight against diabetes. It symbolises the blue sky under which we all stand

united in our stand against diabetes.

Our programs are multi-pronged – aimed at awareness as well as intervention.

Our landmark activities are as follows:

and many others...

3 national campaigns for a

fortnight on diabetes

World record for the largest human blue

ring

One of the largest organised diabetes screening camps of

the country

200+ building illuminated in blue

on eve of World Diabetes Day

An online wall agaist diabetes engaging

lakhs of people

Nationwide radio and print campaign

Participation of Union Health

Ministers, chief of IDF

Partnerships with health ministry, IDF,

ASI among many others

5 national summits on key issues

related to diabetes

Our partners

Various corporate also supported our initiative and contributed to reduce India’s diabetes burden.

Our efforts have been endorsed and supported by: More than 100 influential people in the space of diabetes have guided, supported and endorsed our

initiatives. We are thankful to them. Some of the key names are as follows:

Ms. Isabella Platon, Head-Communications IDF, pinning Dr. A.K. Walia, then Hon’ble Minister of Health, Delhi with a Blue Ring

Ghulam Nabi Azad, then Union Health Minister of India

Jean Claude Mbanya, then chief of International Diabetes Federation

Prof. (Smt) Fauzia Tahasin Khan, Then Hon’ble Minister of Health, Govt. of Maharashtra

Mohammed Azharuddin, Former Captain, Indian Cricket Team

Dr. Gautam Sengupta, Then Director General,

Archaeological Survey of

India

Ms. Manisha P Mhaiskar,Then

Addl. Municipal Commissioner

(Western Suburbs) BMC,

Mumbai, Maharashtra

and many other...

Former Delhi Social

Welfare, Women & Child

Department & Languages

Minister Prof. Kiran Walia

says (Western Suburbs)

BMC, Mumbai,

Maharashtra

Mr. Hemant Nagrale (IPS), Then Joint Commissioner of Police, Mumbai, Maharashtra

Dr. C. S. Pandav, Professor

and HoD Centre for

Community Medicine, AIIMS

Prof. (Dr) Shashank R. Joshi, President, Indian Academy of Diabetes and Consulting Endocrinologist - Lilavati Hospital & Research Centre, Mumbai

Ms. Ann Keeling (CEO, International Diabetes Federation) presenting a memento to Dr. Anoop Misra, Chairman, Fortis C-DOC, New Delhi

(L-R) Shri Zakir Khan, Corporator EDMC, Member Waqf Board Delhi being presented a memento by Dr. Janak Dave, Head Communication Shri

Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple

Sh. Paramjit Singh Sarna, President, Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, Delhi

Father Dominic Emmanuel, Director of Communication and official spokesperson of the Delhi Catholic Archdiocese

Dr. Jagdish Prasad, Then

Director General of Health

Services

Our key initiatives

1. Understanding the disease Diabetes has various dimensions in the country. To understand different aspects of the disease and

perception of people around it, over the years we have conducted 5 national level surveys around key

issues like:

The burgeoning incidence of juvenile diabetes

Understanding the caregiver’s mindset

Mapping extent of belief in myths around diabetes in people at high risk of diabetes i.e. family

members

Role of women as primary care givers

Perception around severity of diabetes as a disease

The surveys were released to the masses through press conducted where stalwarts of the diabetes

healthcare industry address the media and released the survey results.

Our surveys have generated over 75,000 sq cm of print coverage in leading national and vernacular

publications of the country.

2. Engaging the masses through specialised activities Doctors and care givers are important stakeholders for diabetes patients. Hence, we initiated special

activities engaging the two and streamlining their efforts to make them more fruitful.

Considering the pressing need of diabetes awareness, doctors – the most influential stakeholders, were engaged in a pledge campaign, Doctor4Diabetes Care to spread awareness around diabetes prevention and management among diabetes patients and their family members. Through various channels like mobile applications, SMS, digital social media, other digital platforms and on-ground activation around 15,000 doctors participated in the campaign

Through our survey, it was understood that women are the primary care givers for most diabetes patients in India. Hence, educating a woman about right practices can help ensure better management of the disease was the main theme of Women4Diabetes Care. With right education, the woman can also help protect other family members from being at risk. 25,000+ women from across the country participated in different activities like seminar, digital campaigns, screenings etc.

World’s largest human blue ring

Blue ring is the globally

recognised symbol of

togetherness in supporting the

fight against diabetes. Over

10,000 children got together in

the Noida Expo Centre to form

the world’s largest human blue

ring. Children are one of the primary influencers in families. Any message relayed through them is

caught quickly by the families as well as the media. Hence, we brought together children to take up

this challenge. Sh. Ghulam Nabi Azad, the then Union Health Minister was also present at the event.

3. Spreading information through entertainment While it is our concern that diabetes should be taken seriously by the Indian population, we also

strived to educate people that despite being diabetic, life can be lived normally if proper precautions

are taken. Hence, we have organised various infotaining activities engaging the masses. Over 50 walks

4 diabetes care in different cities and 2 large scale flash dance performances at key locations – one of

them being India Gate have pulled attention. Over 1,00,000 people have participated in these

activities including Smt. Kiran Walia, BMC commissioner, former Miss India, renowned doctors etc.

4. Cultural and religious associations The diverse Indian population is united in the fact that we are very cultural and religious people.

Hence, we believed that taking the cultural and religious route to spread awareness around diabetes

will be very impactful.

Relating diabetes and its complications to the evil Ravana, we participated in over 20 Ramleela

celebrations in Delhi and burnt the Ravana of diabetes and its complications. The ramleela grounds

had posters and banners informing people about diabetes. The public announcement system was also

used to give out messages like tips for prevention and control of the disease to the masses. People

could immediately relate Ravana to diabetes and took the messages in a positive spirit. Over

50,00,000 lakh people were reached out to in 9 days of festivities. Along with Dussehra, we also

participated in 10 Durga Poojas to give the same message.

In 2012, Diwali coincided with the eve of World Diabetes Day. We urged the masses to celebrate Blue

Diwali to support the fight against diabetes. We urged the masses to join the movement by

illuminating their houses in blue to show solidarity towards the cause of diabetes awareness. Over 2

lakh people across the country celebrated blue Diwali. Over 25,000 households shared pictures of

their blue lit households on Diwali on our Facebook page. We created an online blue ring with support

of the households who shared their blue Diwali celebrations with us.

Religion has the power to alter mindsets. To inform, educate and empower a wider section of the

public, we associated with all major religions of the country in 2012. A press conference was held at

Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib where flag bearers of all major faiths along with the president of

International Diabetes Federation and other dignitaries extended their support to our initiatives. To

further show their solidarity towards diabetes awareness, Bangla Sahib Gurdwara, Shri

Swaminarayan Akshardham temple, Jama Masjid and Sacred Heart Church were illuminated in blue,

the colour which symbolises unity towards diabetes awareness across the globe, on 7th November

2012. The coming together of Hindus, Christians, Muslims and Sikhs was covered majorly in the media

and reached over 1,00,00,000 of people.

Press conference in progress at Gurudwara Rakabganj Shahib New Delhi. Key dignitaries on the dais

1 2 3

4 1. Shri Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple New Delhi

2. Gurdwara Bangla Sahib New Delhi

3. Jama Masjid New Delhi

4. Sacred Heart Cathedral New Delhi

5. Engaging stalwarts of the diabetes industry in discussion Over the last five years, we have organised 5 national level summits engaging key people of the

diabetes space like health care professionals (doctors, endocrinologists, nutritionists etc.), pharma

giants, health media, social scientists, representatives of diabetes organisations like International

Diabetes Federation, Diabetes India, Diabetes Foundation of India, India Diabetes Research

Foundation etc. These summits have seen deliberation on various key issues relevant to diabetes in

the current times. The topics of the summit have been:

Child Health Congress: Discussing juvenile diabetes, its reasons and how to prevent it at the

right age.

Diabesity Summit: Decoding the relationship between diabetes and obesity.

Discussion on need and direction of govt’s intervention to reduce the diabetes burden.

Mainstreaming NCDs as a key health development agenda in India

The shifting paradigm from communicable diseases to non communicable diseases – Focus on

diabetes.

Over 3000 dignitaries attended the summits with close to 60 experts as speakers. The summits were

widely covered in the media including 2 full page all edition reports. The summits garnered a

combined coverage of 50,000 sq cm across India.

6. Blue Illumination We are the pioneers of the concept of illumination of landmarks in India. Illumination of buildings acts

as a pull for the general masses. It arouses curiosity, results in high media interest and makes people

want to know more about the subject. It is also a show of support. Thrice on the eve of World

Diabetes Day in the past five years, we have lit up the country in blue – the colour of support in the

fight against diabetes. The Archaeological Survey of India has supported us in our initiative. Taj Mahal,

Qutub Minar, Victoria Memorial, Char Minar, Jama Masjid, Bangla Sahib Gurdwara, Sacred Heart

Church, Purana Quila, Fatehpur Sikri, Britannia Gardens, Akshardham Temple, Siddhivianayak Temple,

AIIMS are just a few names in 200+ key landmark places of India which were illuminated in blue on

the eve of World Diabetes Day.

The blue illumination was widely covered in the press as well taking our message wider.

7. Amplification To ensure that our message reaches the maximum number of people in all corners of the country, we

employ multiple channels to spread awareness around diabetes and related complications. From

educating the media to write more stories around diabetes, print and radio campaigns, digital

campaigning to outdoor media, we have utilised all channels and reached over 40,00,00,000 people in

India in 5 years.

Way Forward We shall always work towards reducing the social-economic-health burden of diabetes on our country.

We look forward to gain support of likeminded organisations and make this campaign of ours bigger

and more effective.

About HEAL Foundation HEAL Foundation is a not – for – profit group registered under Societies Registration Act. We provide social advocacy platform for facilitating meaningful communication between social scientists, development agencies, communities, policy makers, Institutions and medical fraternity using various communication tools with the purpose of raising public awareness on health issues and effecting desirable changes. HEAL is wedded to the cause of improving, innovating and implementing healthcare programs in the country. We also provide educational resources that help realize the goal of achieving high standard of health awareness in the society. www.healfoundation.in is an exclusive as well as unique health portal to connect with health writers, doctors, nutritionists, academia, social groups, policy makers and general public. We are proud of our pan India network of Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), health writers, editors and journalists, doctors and experts who help us push ahead in the healthcare awareness industry with accurate and wide spread reach extending from vernaculars to SAARC countries. Over the years we have progressed to strategizing and executing multi level stakeholder programs and mass awareness campaigns.

For more information on our diabetes initiatives:

Ray Umraopati Rai, umrao@healfoundation.in, +91 9212683640