To mark World Diabetes Day
Heightened efforts by the Health Ministry to address diabetes in Guyana were Saturday lauded as a good initiative by members of the public.

This elderly gentleman gets his blood pressure tested at the mini-health fair.

This came from citizens who attended a health fair, organised to mark World Diabetes Day, outside Quik Serv at the Stabroek Market square.

Focus on the chronic disease was done under the theme ‘Diabetes Education and Prevention’, and was facilitated through collaboration with entities including the National Milling Company (NAMILCO) and the Diabetic Foot Care Centre of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

The activity began in the morning with a health walk from Bank of Guyana, Avenue of the Republic, along Church Street then south into Vlissengen Road and west into Brickdam, culminating at the Stabroek Quik Serv outlet. Some 200 persons participated in the march.

Passersby visit the Guyana Diabetic Association’s education booth.

At the site, health workers made available blood glucose (sugar) testing, blood pressure testing, Body Mass Index (BMI) calculations and materials to advance chronic diseases awareness.

“My mother troubles with sugar, so when I saw this I came to get my sugar tested, in case,” said Ms. Anita Panday.

She explained that the information she collected at the health fair would serve her well to monitor a hereditary condition.

“It is good,” Panday asserted.
Another man, Mr. Dennis Street, reiterated this and added that bringing the services to the people and educating the people was the best way to keep Guyanese healthy.

NAMILCO representative Taijawattie Williams points out the variety of health foods while a passerby samples a whole grain roll.

Mrs. Florence Walton concurred, and pointed out that for many people who think it a hassle to go to a hospital or a pharmacy, the health fair was a good way to make people aware of the importance of health.

“They come here and they get help with the test, plus people get a chance to know why they have to do certain things to keep healthy,” she said.

Another woman, Mrs. Cecelia Sampson, shared one of her experiences with the Guyana Chronicle as she maintained that being aware was crucial to maintaining good health.

She said, “My blood sugar was high, three hundred and something, so I had to get insulin. When I go home after getting the insulin I take a metformin (the prescribed diabetes medication) too. If I had known I would not have taken it because it carries my sugar too low…This fair is good because it makes you know what to do and why it is important, especially for diabetic people.”

This man gets his blood glucose level tested.

Facilitators echo these sentiments.
Ms. Daneth Mingo, a nurse with the Guyana Diabetic Association, stated that the fair is an important sensitisation tool.

“It not only offers them tests, but educates people on the care of persons with diabetes and the effects of diabetes, as well as gives other information on the importance of monitoring blood glucose levels,” she said.

Additionally, Mingo pointed out that the Diabetic Association was taking the opportunity to recruit new members.

She said, “The association has approximately 100 members and we realise that as a group we can make a bigger impact, so we are trying to get more persons involved.”

A representative of the Diabetic Foot Clinic at the GPHC explains to a visitor the importance of correct footwear. (Photos by Vanessa Narine)

Mingo noted that the group meets on the fourth Wednesday of every month at 17:00h at the Nursing Association on Alexander Street.

Dr. Carlos Martin, doctor in charge of the Diabetic Foot Centre at the GPHC, noted that group efforts help to push awareness.

“There are complications associated with diabetes and awareness helps to prevent, in our focus area, foot diseases,” he said.

Representative of NAMILCO, Ms. Taijawattie Williams, added that a multi-faceted approach to addressing diabetes is necessary.

A cross section of the gathering at yesterday’s health fair.

NAMILCO is doing its part to make people aware of the local products available to aid healthy lifestyles and good diets.

And Nutritionist in the Health Ministry’s Chronic Diseases Department, Ms. Jacqueline Williams, pointed out that the health fair initiative was not rolled out in Georgetown alone, but in other parts of the country too.

Other locations included Regions Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam), Three (West Demerara/ Essequibo), Five (Mahaica/ Berbice), Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne), Seven (Cuyuni/ Mazaruni), Nine (Upper Takutu/ Upper Essequibo) and at the Timehri Health Centre.