Hemas launches ‘Say Yes to Life’ campaign against diabetes

Hemas Holdings PLC has launched the ‘Say Yes to Life’ campaign to create awareness and educate people to take control and manage their lives in a healthy and joyful manner.

With 1 in 4 Sri Lankans being diabetic and the numbers on the rise, ‘Say Yes to Life’ will focus on educating people about diabetes prevention, nutrition, self-care and management, the company said in a media release.

The campaign hopes to encourage and inspire individuals and families to make healthier choices in how they live, in short challenging them to take charge as they can and should have better lives, to keep NCDs (non- communicable diseases) at bay. “With a rice-based staple diet that does not help in managing blood glucose levels, and the lack of a stratified system to identify at-risk and pre-diabetic persons, it is vital that there is awareness on diabetes and we actively fight it,” the company said.

Kasturi Chellaraja Wilson, Group CEO of Hemas Holdings said: “At Hemas we have always strived to support and help individuals and families live a healthier, robust life because we believe every family deserves a better tomorrow. Having our roots and heritage in health we have seen the impact of diabetes first-hand in the sectors we operate in and are committed to help fight this silent menace. Through the Hemas ‘Say Yes to Life’ campaign the group will strive to support the awareness and early management of diabetes in our communities.”

Diabetes has a long-standing impact on the economy of the family, with a less active lifestyle leading to low productivity. Although people have dual incomes in families, it can come to an abrupt end due to premature illness, with more spent on medication and doctor visits and blood tests rather than on things that are more important in life.