After a survey showed that over 7 in 10 people were at risk of diabetes in the Thai capital, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has launched the “Diabetes-Free Thais” campaign to show city-dwellers how they can combat the debilitating disease.
A partnership between the Diabetes Association of Thailand and Merck Thailand is behind the campaign which aims to raise public awareness of pre-diabetes conditions which, if detected and treated early, can slow down the development of diabetes.
According to the elected Deputy Governor Tavida Kamolvej, the campaign will point out the higher risk to older people of developing diabetes as they make up a significant percentage of the city population at 28 percent.
Health practitioners and volunteers are going door to door to raise public awareness of the importance of primary healthcare, which is crucial in detecting diseases at an early stage and helping to reduce treatment expenses in the long term.
Advocacy Action: Are you able to work with a health agency/municipal department/ and or a diabetes advocacy group to promote a similar campaign?