IN CELEBRATION OF WORLD DIABETES DAY

 

 

On Friday 14^th November 2014 the Rotary Club of Princes Town Trinidad and Tobago (“the Club”) in celebration of World Diabetes Day (WDD), under the leadership of its President Jamir Ousman, conducted a diabetes awareness drive at Princes Town Promenade towards generating diabetes awareness amongst our primary school children.

 

100 primary school students from 6 schools within the Club’s jurisdiction attended the event.

 

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and World Health Organisation (WHO) created World Diabetes Day in 1991 in response to the growing concerns about the health threat posed by diabetes. 

 

This year’s focus of WDD was on the importance of starting the day with a healthy breakfast to help prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes and effectively manage all types of diabetes to avoid complications and the Club in keeping with the focus provided each student in attendance with a healthy breakfast comprising a (100%) unsweetened fruit juice, sandwich of salt-fish and vegetables, fruit cup consisting of grapes, water melon and pineapple. 

 

In an effort to create awareness the students were given a T-Shirt with the logo “Health Eating Begins With Breakfast” (“the logo”), a water bottle with the Rotary logo, a pencil case with two pens, two pencils an eraser and a lead sharpener, a Diabetes wrist band, a printed copy book with the Logo of this year’s diabetes theme and Rotary’s logo, together with a diabetic pin.

 

Teachers who accompanied the students, parents and members of the public in attendance were given T-Shirts with the logo and other items.  

 

Nurse Educator Dimple Ramlogan Stoute and Rotarian Zobida Ragbirsingh had a conversation with the students on the importance of healthy eating, exercise and awareness in the prevention of Diabetes and DEAPS – Diabetes Education Awareness in Primary Schools.   

 

Members of the Diabetes Association of Trinidad and Tobago Princes Town Branch and Mr. Adesh Paragasingh, a medical representative from Physicians Pharmaceutical Ltd., who volunteered their time and expertise, assisted by conducting diabetes screening and testing on approximately fifty persons, which included children and other members of the public. Mr. Paragasingh distributed vitamins to all persons who were tested and items for diabetics.

 

Rotarians dressed in T-Shirts with the logo assisted with the distribution of the breakfast plates and other items. 

 

Specially invited guest Mr. Akenath Singh Chairman of the Princes Town Regional Corporation commended the Club on its efforts to promote healthy living and pledged his support to the Club.

 

This event was financed through the use of part proceeds from the Club’s recent Annual Tea & Fashion Event, Fleur, and the Club once again takes the opportunity to thank its supporters for their continued support of its charitable endeavours.

 

Debbie Roopchand

Press Office