Mahatma Gandhi Centre to host Jumpstart health programme
28th April 2017
Mahatma Gandhi Centre to host Jumpstart diabetes health programme
Beginning Monday 1 May, 2017, The Mahatma Gandhi Centre in Eden Terrace, Auckland, will host the first targeted South Asian Jumpstart Diabetes Health Programme.
Jumpstart is a successful national initiative providing exercise, nutrition and lifestyle education for people with diabetes1, or those who have been told they are pre-diabetic.
Founded by YMCA Auckland and healthcare company Pharmaco (NZ) Ltd, the programme has helped over 600 people in the last two years.
Jumpstart will run for ten weeks at The Mahatma Gandhi Centre at 145 New North Road. The programme for the South Asian Community is a result of Jumpstart working closely with local healthcare providers.
Ella Kumar, a physical health and wellbeing promoter and educator, who is leading the programme, says awareness about diabetes and its management needs to grow among the South Asian community:
“This is a very important initiative for our community because South Asian people are more at risk than other ethnic groups,” she says.
“Research shows the Indian population in NZ are prone to diabetes and most of us in our latter years will either know a close friend or relative with diabetes, or have the condition ourselves.
“The shocking statistics show that 40% of us will be affected by the age 70-74 years, which is 25% more than people with a European heritage2. We need to grow awareness and understanding about this condition and educate people about ways it can be managed. This is where a programme like Jumpstart plays such an important role,” she says.
Jumpstart has been operating at 16 YMCAs across the country for two years, starting in Auckland and Hamilton, and then launching in Wellington and Invercargill at the beginning of this year.
Common results from the programme include weight loss, lower waist measurements and blood pressure, improved mental health and confidence about a healthy future. The weekly sessions help get people moving, no matter their size.
For people who are pre-diabetic, exercise and lifestyle programmes, like Jumpstart, can help delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes.
Jumpstart was launched in 2014 after Peter Fergusson, Chief Executive of YMCA Auckland, and Chandra Selvadurai, Managing Director of Pharmaco, discussed ways to support those who are having to manage diabetes daily, so they can enjoy better health.
Chandra Selvadurai, says he is delighted about the first targeted programme for the South Asian community:
“The last two years have shown how Jumpstart helps people to self-manage their health and gives them hope.
“The confidence we see growing in participants is inspiring and results from people working as peers and in groups. There’s a lot of fun and laughter as people help each other to address what is an important personal health issue. The experience improves people’s self-esteem and helps their health, which is important for themselves, their families and community,” he says.
The South Asian Jumpstart Diabetes Health Programme is partly funded and will cost participants just $40 for the entire ten-week course, which takes place weekly at 7.30pm on Monday evenings. People who enrol will also be given a 10-week membership to any YMCA, meaning they can try different types of exercise in a community focused and welcoming gym.
For more information about the Jumpstart programme at The Mahatma Gandhi Centre, please click here, call Ella Kumar on 0210477642 or visit the website www.jumpstartprogramme.co.nz
ENDS
For
further information, please contact:
Jonathan Tudor, 021
790 475
About YMCA
YMCA is a not-for-profit
community organisation that offers programmes for all age
groups throughout New Zealand. Its centres provide the
community with a vast range of recreational and sport
programmes catering to all abilities and include twelve
fitness clubs, four aquatic facilities, two camps, two
accommodation buildings, five licensed early childhood
centres and eight indoor stadiums. Fitness is its largest
business unit and it has achieved huge success by winning
more national fitness awards than any other fitness club
provider.
About Pharmaco (NZ) Ltd
Pharmaco (NZ) Ltd is
a New Zealand owned and operated company that was
established in 1967. It provides a full range of sales and
marketing services to international pharmaceutical, medical,
diagnostic and scientific companies requiring representation
in New Zealand and Australia. Its service is supported by
warehousing, distribution, regulatory and administration
services. Pharmaco Diabetes, a division of Pharmaco (NZ)
Ltd, distributes a range of diabetes related products. In
2012, Pharmaco (NZ) Ltd was awarded a Pharmac Sole Supply
tender for the supply of Blood Glucose meters and test
strips in New Zealand.
References:
1 – Diabetes
is the result of the body not creating enough insulin to
keep blood glucose (sugar) levels in the normal range.
Everyone needs some glucose in their blood, but if it's too
high it can damage your body over time.
Type 1 diabetes
is an 'auto-immune' condition. Basically the body sets up an
attack against the cells within it that make insulin. These
cells are called beta cells and are isolated in the
pancreas. The result is that the body does not produce any
insulin (or very little) – (Diabetes NZ,
http://www.diabetes.org.nz – accessed 26.4.17)
Type 2
diabetes is a condition in which your body isn't able to use
insulin properly, resulting in high blood glucose levels.
This can lead to a wide range of health problems if not
treated (healthnavigator.org.nz, accessed, 3.2.17).
2 -
Jo EC, Drury PL. Development of a virtual diabetes register
using information technology in New Zealand. Healthc Inform
Res.
2015;21(1):49-55
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