An awareness programme on diabetes and exhibition on fruits, food, vegetables and cereals which check diabetes was held on Wednesday at the Kosappalayam Urban Health Centre here.

Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy participated as a special guest and inaugurated the function held on behalf of the Directorate of Indian system of Medicine and Homeopathy. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Narayanasamy said that presently people attained good awareness and are switching over to Ayurveda and Homeopathy medicines. Several researches proved that there will not be any side effects in Ayurveda, Homeopathy and Unani medicines while there will be side effects in Allopathy treatment, the Chief Minister said. 

Mr Narayansamy said when Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister, priority was given to Homeopathy and a separate wing was created here, besides appointing doctors and constructing a separate hospital. Though, the central government had made an effort later to shift the hospital from Puducherry, the hospital was retained on request from the state government. Presently aged persons are getting treatment in the morning and evening at the hospital, he added. Blood pressure, Diabetes and Cancer holds the first, second and third positions among diseases in the country, he said, adding that inspite of several researches, no medicine to cure cancer was not invented and many are losing their lives to cancer.

One becomes a diabetic because of food habits, he said, adding that one third of the population is affected by diabetes. They do not know that they are suffering from diabetes and it will gradually affect their eyes and physical structure. 90 percent of the diseases could be cured if diabetes was controlled, he said. Stating that diet plays a vital role for diabetes, he called upon the people to select their diet instead of getting treatment after affecting with diabetes. Health Director Dr.Raman, Deputy Director Allirani, Assistant Director Sunderarajan, Homeopathy Nodal officer Balaji and Medical officer Aswini among others participated.