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Saturday, 20 November 2010 00:17 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
November 14 is commemorated as World Diabetes Day to raise awareness among the general public about the prevention and treatment of diabetes.
Today an estimated 285 million of people are living with diabetes worldwide. This figure is expected to rise to 438 million by 2030.
In Sri Lanka 10.3% of the adult population is suffering from diabetes. That is 1.3 m is diabetics while 1.5 million are in pre diabetes condition in Sri Lanka. This figure is expected to rise by 14% by 2030.
Swiss Biogenics Ltd., one of the largest healthcare companies in Sri Lanka has been a keen supporter of diabetes awareness and education programs across the country. It represents global diabetes related healthcare companies such as Novo Nordisk, Johnson and Johnson Medical, Medtronic, Zydus Cadila and Siemens DIagnostics.
In this regard, company employees well as employees of the parent group, Sunshine Holdings PLC joined the National Diabetes Walk named ‘Walk for Life 2010’ organised by the Diabetes Research Unit. The walk commenced from Independence Square at 7:30 a.m. under the patronage of the First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa and Minister of Health Maithripala Sirisena.
Accompanying them were over 500 other dignitaries representing the medical profession, government Institutions, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals and the general public who walked along the streets of Colombo to the BMICH, where an Exhibition was held to commemorate the World Diabetes Day 2010.
Swiss Biogenics also organized many diabetes screening programs in various parts of the country including north and east.