To commemorate World Diabetes Day, Rotary International District 3234, under the leadership of District Governor AKS Rtn. Vinod Saraogi, First Lady Rtn.Usha Saraogi, Deputy Governor Rtn. Mohan Raghavan, and District Secretary Rtn. Sapthagiri, launched a large scale diabetes awareness campaign titled “Sa’iyam” in association with Rtn.Dr. M. C. Deepak, Senior Consultant, Madhav Diabetes Centre, Anna Nagar. The initiative is being spearheaded by District Health Chair Rtn.Suryanarayana Rao and District Diabetes Chair Rtn.Vrinda Deepak, with support from District Rotaract Representative Sathish Kumar.
Sa’iyam, meaning self-restraint or moderation, highlights the importance of balance in lifestyle choices as a key factor in preventing and managing metabolic disorders. The campaign commenced with a 1.8 km Walkathon held on November 9, 2025, at Elliots Beach, Besant Nagar, where Rotarians, Rotaractors, and volunteers from the Madhav Diabetes Centre walked together to spread awareness on diabetes prevention and control. A demonstration of yoga asanas and surya namaskar was conducted by a team from Saurav Yog, emphasizing the role of regular physical activity and mindfulness in maintaining metabolic health. Over 650 Rotaractors from Anna Adarsh College, Loyola College, MGR Janaki College, M.O.P. Vaishnav College, New College, Stella Maris College, Ambattur College, and Madras Rhythms took part in the walkathon, along with Rotarians and representatives from the medical fraternity. As part of the continuing campaign, four days of diabetes screening camps are planned this week at Chennai MGR Railway Station, Egmore Railway Station, Tambaram Railway Station, Chennai Airport, and selected housing societies across the city.
A healthy breakfast was served to all participants after the walkathon, reinforcing the importance of nutritious eating habits in leading a healthy life. Care was taken to ensure that participants did not litter and that the natural beauty of the beach was preserved.
RI District 3234 remains committed to promoting health and wellness across workplaces, schools, colleges, and the community at large. Indian Council of Medical Research studies indicate that for every one person diagnosed with diabetes, there is another who remains undetected. Early detection and good control from Day 1 can greatly improve quality of life. About 106 people who walked on the beachfront had their sugars checked during the walkathon. With initiatives like Sa’iyam, Rotary hopes that small, collective steps will lead to significant progress in the prevention of non-communicable diseases. If the world can stand on the brink of eradicating polio, we can surely aspire to overcome the growing challenge of diabetes.
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