WDF to kick off 'Padasamrakshane' to prevent amputation

Bangalore, May 5 (UNI) The World Diabetes Foundation (WDF), along with the Jain Institute of Vascular Sciences (JIVAS), will launch a unique programme, 'Padasamrakshane,' in the city to create awarness among diabetes patients on footcare to prevent amputation.

JIVAS Director Dr K Suresh and WDF Managing Director Anil Kapur told newspersons here today that WDF would provide US Dollars 235,000 to meet 80 per cent of the project cost that would have a mobile diabetic foot clinc, equipped with the latest technical facilities to conduct on location screening for problems relating to foot in rural areas within 150 km of Bangalore.

The aim was to improve diabetic footcare by training personnel at the Diabetic Footcare centre of JIVAS.

Dr Kapur said awareness of the diabetic foot was inadequate among both public and medical professionals. It was also a financially devastating problem, esp[ecially for the lower income patients.

He said in India 45,000 amputations awere carried out every year due to diabetes and 80 per cent of it could be prevented if patients were properly educated.

Currentlty 35 to 38 million people were suffering from diabetes in India and the number would touch 80 million in 2030, Dr Kapur said, adding that it was predominantly prevalent in urban areas with people above 35 years of age falling victims to it. Besides genetic reasons, the current lifestyle and stress were also the causing factors.

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