BUSINESSWOMAN DONATES TT$5 MILLION TO DIABETES EDUCATION AND PREVENTION FUND
"Education is a national asset, not a private indulgence, and the burden of the cost must be borne by all. In this regard, each of us has a major role to play—our government, our alumni, commerce and industry, and the community at large," said President Richards. President Richards was speaking at the launch of the Bhagwansingh Hardware Diabetes Education Research and Prevention Trust, at which UWI Pro Vice Chancellor and Campus Principal, Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie, received a cheque for five million dollars from Mrs Helen Bhagwansingh.
Mrs. Helen Bhagwansingh decided that the Bhagwansingh Group must make a contribution to the management of diabetes after a meeting with Professor Paul Teelucksingh, one of several UWI Lecturers to conduct research into the disease. From him, she learnt that nationwide the incidence of diabetes was over twenty per cent. She was particularly touched to learn that the disease was even affecting young children and that if it was not brought under control, the cost in human suffering and lives would be staggering.
This financial donation will go in part to the launch of a primary school programme promoting healthy lifestyles with the intention of creating increased awareness for screening primary school children for obesity by use of simple indicators – waist circumference, height and blood pressure.
The Trust, which will also leverage contributions from donors towards the funding of organisations undertaking projects corresponding to criteria developed by Trustees, will also fund research in the field of chronic non-communicable diseases, specifically the care of diabetes and its associated diseases, including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, physical disabilities resulting from diabetes, blindness, stroke and related diseases. The Trust will also fund education in the field of chronic non-communicable diseases at the national level, as well as interventions designed to ensure that prevention is at the heart of the treatment of chronic non-communicable diseases.
