Thursday, November 13, 2008 Davao City marks World Diabetes Day By Joy Romares-Sevilla
THE Handicap International, in partnership with the Davao City Health Office and its Nutrition Division, spearheads the celebration of the World Diabetes Day in Davao City this week.
Dr. Roberto Alcantara, action officer for special projects of the City Health Office, said Monday that there are two major events that mark the observation of the World Diabetes day this year. These are the Cooking with Diabetes, and Bringing Diabetes to Light, a candle-lighting ceremony.
Alcantara said that Cooking with Diabetes is a contest on meal planning and preparation of diabetes-friendly recipes.
"The contest is open to all nutrition officers of the Davao City Health Office with team leaders coming from the ten pilot communities of the Handicap International's Diabetes Project," Alcantara said.
These identified ten pilot communities include Barangay Lapu-Lapu, Barangay 23 C, Barangay 5-A, Ma-a, Pampanga, a barangay in Talomo, Matina Aplaya, Toril, Mintal, and Calinan.
The contestants will be given a profile of one patient with diabetes, and based on the information provided, they will develop a one-day meal plan for the patient with a budget of P200.
The recipes will be included in a nutrition book that will be distributed for free among persons with diabetes in Davao City.
The contest will be held on November 13 at the SM City Davao Event Centre.
Meanwhile, the citywide celebration will culminate in a candle lighting ceremony entitled Bringing Diabetes to Light on World Diabetes Day on November 14.
The event will bring together the City Government employees who will light up 246 blue candles forming a circle. This represents the 246 million persons with diabetes around the world, while the blue circle is the global symbol for diabetes.
