Doctor cycles from Kashmir to Kanyakumari for awareness

A UK-based doctor is on a cycling mission from Kashmir to Kanyakumari to spread awareness about chronic ailments like heart disease, diabetes, kidney failure and stroke.

Dr TV Seshagiri, whom DNA met during his stop-over in Bangalore, said such diseases could be prevented by regular physical exercise and minor changes in lifestyle. He said he was surprised to find that India was fast becoming the diabetes capital of the world.

People are becoming diabetics at a young age and he wants to alert people about this alarming trend through his cyclathon.

“As we passed through three villages in Tamil Nadu, we found that 20% of the people have high blood pressure. One in five people had it. In Andhra too, 40% of the villagers had it,” he said.

These chronic diseases are silent killers and can do a lot of damage to the patient unless detected at an early stage. What is alarming is that there are more diabetics aged between 32 and 35. They suffer from type 1 diabetes, which is mainly caused because of unhealthy lifestyles.

“We also found that the gap between rural and urban patients is narrowing,” he said.

“Earlier, villager used to do a lot of physical exercise in fields and their diet was well-suited to the nature of their work. Nowadays, instead of walking, they go to the fields on their bikes or tractors and the diet remains the same although their work has reduced,” he added.

As he travels, he distributes pamphlets in schools, colleges and hospitals. He is also screening people he meets on the way for cataract and collects funds for surgeries.

Seshagiri began his cyclathon on September 26. He pedal eight hours a day and meets more than 100 passers-by. On September 29, he will screen adult population near Madurai for cataract.

Actor and youth envoy for UN habitat programme Vikram said: “Dr Seshagiri has been doing a great job with his awareness programme. I am just the goodwill ambassador of the event. He is the real hero.”