AMADER PROCHESTA: Creating awareness on COVID-19 and Diabetes

A project titled 'Amader Prochesta' was launched recently in the capital to create social awareness on COVID-19 and diabetes, says a press release. The project will help healthcare professionals in identifying the unmet needs in diabetes management for patients, who are suffering from COVID-19, and the preparedness required in the healthcare system.

The project is a joint initiative of the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (BADAS), Non-Communicable Diseases Control (NCDC) Programme of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Novo Nordisk and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

A guideline on 'COVID-19 and diabetes for healthcare professional' has been prepared and published and a dedicated website: www.diabetes-covid19.org has been introduced under this project.

200,000 people will be tested for random blood sugar, and educational materials, videos, leaflets, and posters have been prepared and distributed on the prevention of COVID-19 and diabetes.

Professor A K Azad Khan, President of BADAS, said, "Diabetes patients are at higher risk and they need to be very careful amidst this pandemic and social awareness is the key to prevent this deadly disease including other non communicable diseases (NCDs)."

"This project is an opportunity for Novo Nordisk to demonstrate our social responsibility and commitment to patients and the communities we operate in," said Dr Mihail Briciu, Managing Director of Novo Nordisk.

The new platform will be used effectively to protect health of patients living with diabetes and hypertension, said Yasuhiro Kawazoe, Senior Representative of JICA.