Mohanlal launches diabetes awareness campaign

The state-wide social awareness programme “Diabetes Kerala-2012” was officially launched here on Monday. Inaugurating the campaign ‘Play the Blue’,  that will be organised in connection with the programme, actor Mohanlal called for unified effort on part of the citizens to spread  diabetes awareness.

“Why I am here? As an actor, my commitment is to portray my roles to perfection. But as a common man, I believe, it is my duty and social responsibility to work for such a noble cause and to create awareness among the public on a potentially fatal disease,” Mohanlal said.

The actor also appreciated the efforts taken by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and thanked the agency for selecting Kerala as one of the four states in India where the campaigns will be launched.

‘Play the Blue’ campaign will be carried out by a team of artists which will travel across the state. The blue wagon, spreading the diabetes day message, will be flagged off at the Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram, on November 17 and will travel through all the districts. Speaking on the occasion, IDF head of communications Isabella Platon said that Mohanlal has been named as the ‘World Diabetes Day Hero’ who will be the lead celebrity to carry out the campaign in the state.

She also expressed her concern over the drastic increase in the number of diabetes patients in India, particularly in Kerala. Minister for Social Welfare and Panchayats M K Muneer inaugurated the cartoon exhibition organised  in connection with the campaign. District Collector P I Sheik Pareeth and S Sachidananda Kamath, president, IAP, were also present.