As a part of a personal initiative on his behalf, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances,Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh, who is also a nationally renowned Diabetologist, today arranged to send a consignment of free Insulin worth Rs.1 crore consisting of 75,000 vials for persons suffering from Diabetes in the earthquake hit Nepal. Disclosing this, Dr Jitendra Singh said, a small country like Nepal has a diabetic population of over 7 lakh people and the Insulin consignment that is being sent, consists of different forms of Insulin...long-acting, short-acting and the mixed forms. The arrangement has been made with the cooperation of a leading Insulin manufacturing House and would be a great boon particularly to those of the Diabetics who are either Insulin dependent or Insulin requiring, especially in a situation where the rescue operation gets delayed and a diabetic person inadvertently places himself at risk of life for want of Insulin,he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh recalled that Diabetologist fraternity of the two countries of India and Nepal has always worked in close coordination both in academics as well as in providing diabetic care. He has himself been a part of a number of Diabetes education programmes and camps held in Nepal over the last several years. And therefore, it is a responsibility and obligation of Diabetologists like him and others, to rise to the occasion and come to the assistance of both the diabetic fraternity as well as diabetic patients in the country,he said.
Elaborating further, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the first consignment of 75,000 vials itself will weigh about 4 tons and may have to be sent in parts but the arrangements are being made to ensure that the first part of the consignment is dispatched by afternoon today. If required, he added, more of Insulin and other life saving drugs would also be arranged from voluntary sources and dispatched to Nepal. He appealed to medical fraternity as well as all those associated with health care to come forward and contribute in the large scale initiative undertaken by the Government of India under the direct supervision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.