On 14th November 2019, the Department of Health under health education observed World Diabetes Day in all the Tibetan Settlements using Social and Behavour Change Communication (SBCC) skills.
The Department of Health under SBCC healthy lifestyle campaign is promoting adoption of healthy diet and fun exercise amongst Tibetans as the day 14th November coincided with World Diabetes Day.
The health workers at the facility took different approaches through group activities, which were engaging and interactive.
In larger Tibetan settlement like Mundgod, the nurses demonstrated healthy cooking for diabetic patients. They also displayed cooking portions in plate which was helpful and practical with the audiences to practice at home.
In Ladakh, the Executive Secretary organized a healthy tea making competition in two bigger camps and the winners were given prizes. The objective of this competition was to promote healthy tea consumption, which focused on consuming non-diary and buttery tea for example consumption of green tea.
At Miao settlement the nurses organized games to create balance diet in plates using raw ingredients.
The CHW at Paonta Sahib gathered elders in the settlement to take part in diabetes walk to encourage mobility among the elders. In the smaller settlements health workers displayed raw vegetables, fruits and junk foods during health talk to convey messages on healthy diet options.
In rest of the settlement they have done free diabetes screening for 30 years and above for early detection and were advised to monitor blood sugar levels if they are diabetic. The Tibetan diabetes booklets published by the health department were distributed for free.
In Bir, two elders shared their experiences after having gone through diabetic illnesses and advised the audiences to control unhealthy diet and do exercise to prevent medication.
In few other settlements nurses initiated dance and zumba sessions for public to encourage exercising in a fun way. This time the refreshments provided were unlike regular unhealthy snacks, nurses provided healthy refreshments like fenugreek leave parantha, seasonal fruit and green tea as a practical initiative towards healthy eating.
Tibetan Medical & Astro Institute (TMAI) branch staff at the facility collaboratively create awareness on diabetes through Traditional Tibetan Medicine.
