A number of schools in Delhi will be amongst the first in India to receive information and valuable training on how to educate teachers, students and parents on diabetes (Type I and Type II) in school. The Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), HRIDAY (Health Related Information Dissemination Amongst Youth), the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and Sanofi India announced the roll-out of the KiDS (Kids and Diabetes in Schools) ‘School Diabetes Information Pack’ designed for India in public and private schools in Delhi. This information pack was released in the presence of stakeholders including MoHFW, GoI, Department of Education and Health, Govt of NCT of Delhi.
The KiDS initiative launched in India in September 2013 by Sir Michael Hirst, President of IDF; Chris Viehbacher, Chief Executive Officer, Sanofi; and Dr K Srinath Reddy, President, PHFI, is a school-based intervention that aims to counteract diabetes related discrimination and foster a supportive learning environment in schools around both types of diabetes.
15 schools (both government and private) will receive training sessions and information packs on managing diabetes from experts in healthcare, public health and health promotion from HRIDAY and PHFI. The information pack will offer information on diabetes management to children with diabetes, as well as teachers and parents of children with diabetes. The pack suggests interesting extra-curricular activities to engage children on the issue.
School training sessions will focus on educating teachers and school staff on diabetes; symptoms associated with episodes of high and low blood sugar and how to respond in case of emergency situations. Educational sessions will also be available to parents and children. A ‘diabetes in schools’ app available in Hindi and English featuring interactive elements of the pack, will be available later in the year, ensuring that diabetes information reaches as many people as possible.
“By tackling diabetes, early-on in schools, the KiDS project has a unique opportunity to influence how we perceive and manage diabetes in and outside of school,” said Dr David Chaney, Senior Education Specialist at IDF. “We want children to feel comfortable managing their diabetes in school, whilst at the same time educating their care-giving network on the best way to deal with diabetes. This project has the potential to have a positive impact on communities in general.”
“Creating an enabling environment at the school and community levels requires cooperation and partnership of all stakeholders. Through the KiDS initiative, we have made an attempt to sensitise teachers, parents, students on diabetes and its related complications, many of which can be prevented through a healthy school environment,” said Dr Monika Arora, Director- Health Promotion, PHFI.
“Globally, Sanofi brings real benefits to people with diabetes. We believe that children with diabetes should have the opportunity to thrive in a safe and supportive environment. For many though, a lack of education and knowledge about the condition can lead to discrimination and feelings of isolation for those affected. The KiDS project is a unique opportunity for Sanofi to collaborate on an important public health initiative with organisations such as IDF, PHFI and ISPAD, and to focus on key priorities in diabetes awareness. We want to make a real difference to the lives of young people in India.” shared N Rajaram, Country Head and General Manager, Pharmaceutical Operations, Sanofi India.
EP News Bureau– Mumbai
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