Project DISHA

• Objective: To reach 100,000 people for increasing diabetes awareness by 2012
• This requires training a cadre of volunteer social health workers who can impart awareness about diabetes prevention and other related non-communicable diseases (hypertension, heart disease) and their management
• DISHA is an acronym for Deerghayu’s Initiative for Social Health Awareness.

Level 1. Diabetes Prevention

• Based on “Road to Health” training course developed by National Institute of Health
• The toolkit uses posters, flipcharts for diabetes prevention
• Traffic light analogy for diet control.

2. Living with Diabetes –aimed at diabetic patients

• Unique course in Indian context based on the guidelines of ACP The educator translates the kit in culture and language context. We are in the process of developing a set in Hindi and Gujarati in 2011.

3. Hypertension

• What it is. How to avoid it –Diet, substituting fried food products for a healthy alternate, importance of regular blood pressure testing

Level 2 Contents of Level 1 PLUS

• Signs and symptoms of diabetes, hypertension
• Stress assessment, depression measurement module (being discussed with a US university)