Novo Nordisk India has now teamed up with leading schools in Karnataka to create awareness about diabetes among school going children, their parents and school staff through a poster competition.
 
The move is a run up to the World Diabetes Day observed annually on November 14. According to International Diabetes Federation, in 2015, India accounts for 69.2 million diabetics which is estimated to be 123.5 million people by 2040. Taking on the onus to control the condition, Novo Nordisk also organized poster competition for children with type 1 diabetes across 1,000 clinics in India.
 
Over 1500 students, parents and teachers from 30 schools in Bengaluru participated in the awareness drive highlighting the theme: Know Your Risk. The schools included Sacred Heart Girls High School, Apollo Convent High School, Deens Academy, Ramakrishna Vidyakendra, Samarthanam Primary School and Vydehi School of Excellence. The company also organized a screening camp for the teachers, other school staff and parents.
 
At the Sacred Heart Girls High School poster competition winners were announced. Bengaluru Bengaluru city Mayor G. Padmavathi, Mayor and  Melvin D’Souza, vice president and general manager, Novo Nordisk India addressed the participants.
 
As a growing number of young Indians are being diagnosed with diabetes, through this initiative Novo Nordisk India aims to reach out to the school going children and young parents to create awareness about diabetes and associated risks. As part of this campaign, it also conducted sensitization workshops for the participating schools’ teachers on educating children on various healthcare issues, as a child spends around 8-10 hours in the school, said the company.
 
“By tackling diabetes early on, we have a unique opportunity to influence how we perceive and manage the disease. There is a need to educate our children to be aware of and feel comfortable dealing with diabetes. Awareness among children will help make a significant positive impact towards changing diabetes, which is on the rise among younger age groups”, stated D’Souza.
 
The 90-year old Denmark-based Novo Nordisk holds a leadership status in diabetes care. It also helps people defeat other serious chronic conditions like haemophilia, growth disorders and obesity. The company employs approximately 41,600 people in 75 countries and markets its products in more than 180 countries.