1.5 million people, or one third of Kolkata’s population, live in the slums. More than 80% of the population living in the slums are poor, illiterate and lack access to proper health care including diabetes care.A survey shows that 24% of Kolkata’s slum dwellers suffer from diabetes. The prevalence of GDM among pregnant women in urban India is about 16.8% - knowing this, it is safe to assume that the prevalence of gestational diabetes among pregnant women in Kolkata’s slum areas is on the increase.When pregnant women in Kolkata’s slums develop GDM, they do not get proper care and treatment; the ultimate result is high rate of maternal mortality and morbidity in the slum areas.ObjectivesThe goal is to create awareness about diabetes and gestational diabetes among the under-privileged women living in the Kolkata slum areas. The project will promote healthy lifestyle as well as screen pregnant women and women at risk and counsel them on management of diabetes.
The project has four objectives for meeting the needs of women in Kolkata’s slum areas.The first objective is to organise 468 awareness and education camps on diabetes, GDM and lifestyle changes. Women at risk for diabetes will be detected through check of BMI, age and family history during the camps.The second objective is to screen 15,000 high-risk women for diabetes and counsel the women with diabetes on diet management and physical activities and exercise. Over a period of three years, 36 special health check-up and screening camps will be organised, targeting 1500 pregnant women in order to detect women with GDM as well as counseling the women with GDM on diet management, nutrition, moderate physical activities.The third objective is to provide the women with detected GDM and diabetes with follow up care. A referral system will be established to government hospitals, which offer a clinical pathology services, a separate gynecological department, a separate diabetes clinic, a team of gynaecologists, endocrinologists, trained paramedical staff, safe delivery of babies and efficient anti-natal check up services.The fourth objective will be to ensure training for 50 doctors and 150 grass-root health workers in diabetes and GDM.
51,953 women living in slum areas educated about diabetes, HIP and healthy life-style16,809 at-risk women detected through BMI measurement, family history, age factor etc.16,809 at-risk women of reproductive age, living in slum areas screened for diabetes.All women with diabetes counseled on the management of diabetes through diet management and exercise1,447 pregnant women screened for GDM and 227 with GDM provided counselling4,013 women with diabetes and GDM referred to the Government hospitals for further care227 women with GDM receive regular anti-natal care and treatment for GDM at 36 special camps for pregnant women50 doctors trained on DM and GDM 150 grass-root health workers trained on DM and GDM