UDAY Launch Promises to Fight Rising Burden of Noncommunicable Diseases in India
“UDAY” is an intensive five-year program to combat the rising problem of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) that is funded by an educational grant from Eli Lilly and Company.
“UDAY” is an intensive five-year program in India to combat the rising problem of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) that is funded by an educational grant from Eli Lilly and Company. We are really excited to pave the way for a Healthcare Centre of Excellence for NCDs and implementing a comprehensive diabetes prevention and management program. The project is being implemented by a consortium that includes Project HOPE, the Public Health Foundation of India and Population Services International (PSI). A five-year unrestricted grant from Eli Lilly will enable us to build a dedicated team of professionals for this initiative as well as community health workers as we develop UDAY patient networks in the community.
Professor Dr. Damodar Bachani, the Deputy Commissioner for NCDs from India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare visited our Sonipat site in person and discussed the burden of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and heart disease and the need for more public awareness and easy-to-follow communication materials about NCDs. Other renowned experts joined the discussion and expressed great support and encouragement for the HOPE-trained health workers. Dr. Bachani said he was amazed to see health workers providing solutions focusing on diabetes and high blood pressure which can be sustained by the community.
Dr. Bachani said he greatly appreciated HOPE’s training methodology and strategies to educate the health workers and our capacity building efforts. Project HOPE’s team, representatives from Eli Lilly and health ministry officials and others discussed the training methodology and strategies. The Ministry of Health has requested further discussion with us on the following key areas: designing and testing a capacity building training program in two districts within the system and sensitizing community health workers and the public to nurture an environment where NCD issues and conditions can be easily discussed, treated and maintained.