Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Oct 1 : Addressing a function held to launch the country-wide “Apollo Sugar” Initiative in collaboration with Sanofi and Joslin from Harvard Medical School, Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, MoS in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Space and Atomic Energy and nationally known Diabetologist, said here today that even as new strides are being made every day in the management and treatment of diabetes, the ultimate and effective control of most of the metabolic diseases including diabetes lies in what he described as “back to basics” mantra .
Dr Jitendra Singh said that with increasing population of diabetes in young, the focus has to be on ensuring a complication- free span of life for which the non-medicinal methods including life style modifications, stress relief and Yoga will always form an essential pre-requisite. In this regard, he referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call at the United Nations General Assembly to observe an International Yoga Day.
Recalling his association with Dr Prathap Reddy, Chairman of Apollo Hospitals, Dr Jitendra Singh said that he had known Dr Reddy from the times when he was yet to launch the Apollo Hospitals. He said as a young medico in 3rd year MBBS in Stanley Medical College, Chennai, he has vivid memories of Dr Reddy as a young handsome meticulously dressed man regularly visiting the college campus since he had been one of the senior Stanley alumni.
Dr Jitendra Singh expressed hope that “Apollo Sugar” Initiative will serve as a flagship for providing comprehensive, life-long care to diabetics across India.
Dr Prathap Reddy, Chairman of Apollo Hospitals welcomed Dr Jitendra Singh and said he was overwhelmed to have him for this function and looks forward to serve the nation through the care of diabetes through this new Apollo Initiative.
Sanofi’s Global CEO Chris Viehbacher, who is supporting the venture, said that they are committed to provide a complication free diabetes control in the vast population of India.
President International Diabetes Federation Dr Shaukat Sadikot, famous researcher and author Dr Deepak Chopra, Dr Nikhil Tandon and Sangeeta Reddy were also present on the occasion.
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