Heguangheule Zanme reflects on the Walk organised on World Diabetes Day 2023 in Dima Hasao District, and the importance of raising awareness about diabetes in India’s Tribal Communities.
In Dima Hasao District of Assam, India, World Diabetes Day 2023 was celebrated with impactful activities aimed at raising awareness and promoting prevention strategies for diabetes, culminating with a Walk.
But what made this Walk special? Its focus is on reaching Tribal Communities in Assam, and the need for designing culturally acceptable interventions.
For Heguangheule Zanme, the District Program Coordinator of the Dima Hasao Tribal District of Assam, the first aim of the Global Diabetes Walk is to prevent diabetes and promote early detection. She believes that ‘through sensitization, people will be able to make lifestyle modifications’. There is power in knowledge - as Tribal Peoples grow aware of the chronic disease and can identify symptoms, possible cases can be detected early, and, as a result, people can access prompt treatment and better management.
Indigenous and Tribal Communities of India are not shielded of the global trends of urbanisation, sedentarisation, and increasing prevalence of diabetes and other NCDs.
‘Our lives have gone through massive changes’, the District Program Coordinator reflects.
The rural to urban transition has been accompanied by a decrease in physical activity. ‘Daily physical activities were a part of our lives, especially for those who lived in villages far from town’, she adds. ‘Nowadays, people are not as engaged in cultivation and other manual domestic activities as they were before, with many younger generations moving towards towns for educational purposes’.
Despite being aware of the importance of exercise in preventing NCDs, the young population do not practice enough physical activity, leading to an increase in the number of overweight children.
To tackle this challenge, Piramal Swasthya Management and Research Institute (PSMRI) in the Dima Hasao District has been conducting awareness sessions to ensure that all community members are engaged and participate in NCD screenings.
‘Walking has many health benefits’, continues Heguangheule, ‘Though simple as it is, the impact of walking to reduce type 2 diabetes is imperative’.
While walking alone cannot prevent the onset of diabetes, the Global Diabetes Walk allows for greater knowledge of the condition and its management.
On 14th November 2023, Heguangheule organised a Walk in collaboration with the National Health Mission Dima Hasao. Many activities took place in addition to the event, such as an awareness talk, blood pressure and blood sugar screenings and a BMI contest, in which even the urban health center staff participated.
The available screening sessions have led to diabetes and hypertension cases being detected, prompting proper care and treatment.
The celebrations also sought to be rooted within Tribal culture, including a folk song performed to help raise awareness about diabetes, which was followed by a pledge to encourage all to champion change, by helping educate others about the disease.
The events also pricked the curiosity of the onlookers, who became interested in the informative posters brandished through the district during the Walk.
The Assam Global Diabetes Walk showcased the collective efforts of the community in promoting awareness, fostering dialogue, and advocating for healthier lifestyles.