Previous Story
Lions bring diabetes awareness message to MHS students
Students and faculty pose with the Saipan Fil-Am Lions Club and Saipan Mighty Dolphins Leo Club after the Diabetes Awareness presentation held last Nov. 15, Friday, at Marianas High School in Susupe. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
With as much as 18% of adults in the CNMI having diabetes, the Saipan Fil-Am Lions Club and Saipan Mighty Dolphins Leo Club are teaming up to help spread awareness about this disease.
In line with this and as part of the celebration of November as Diabetes Awareness Month, the two groups collaborated with the Non-Communicable Disease Bureau and the Women’s Affairs Office under the Office of the Governor on a diabetes awareness presentation at the Marianas High School in Susupe last Nov. 15, which was attended by almost 400 students.
“Diabetes is the top global cause advocated by the Lions Clubs International,” said Saipan Fil-Am president Eden Mercado, adding that it is the major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke, and lower limb amputation, with million deaths directly caused by diabetes.
“As we keep saying, prevention is better than cure,” Mercado said. “We should start inculcating this while they are still young. Proper orientation and being consistent with the diabetes campaign can help a lot of people to be cautious about their sugar intake.”
Diabetes Prevention and Control Program assistant Beda Mundo and program navigator Vincent Wesley Aldan were the presenters, with MHS students, teachers, teacher aides, counselors, and Lions club members participating in the event.
Mercado said the club is grateful to MHS principal Eric Evangelista and vice principal Christine Tudela and Melanie Rdiall for allowing them to do the presentation.
For more information, visit lionsclub.org, or call Eden Mercado at 788-2416 or Mario Mayuga at 285-1021.
