Empowering Global Health - World Diabetes Day

Empowering Global Health is the theme for World Diabetes Day, observed annually on November 14th. Member of Parliament for Cumuto/Manzanilla, Dr. Rai Ragbir, held his Annual Diabetes Day Medical Clinic where members of the public accessed free services such as vision screening, sugar and blood pressure testing, and blood testing. Dr. Ragbir explained why the theme 'Empowering Global Health' is important. "Healthcare is not for PNM or UNC. It's all races, all parts and people in Trinidad and Tobago. The thing about Diabetes is that almost every household has someone with diabetes and the sad part about it almost every household has someone with the next one c - cancer." According to the World Health Organization, women need 25 grammes of sugar daily while men need 36 grammes of sugar daily. Dr. Ragbir lamented that naturally Trinbagonians consume foods daily that contain high levels of sugar. He also mentioned the intake of processed foods which is resulting in younger people getting heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and hypertension. "There are ultra processed foods, hotdogs, salami, chicken nuggets, dairy products, yogurt, ice cream, these things taste good and it's addictive, but remember we talk about sugar, cancer loves sugar."