Bhopal, 21 September 2026: Over the past week, more than 350 ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers across Bhopal were sensitised on diabetes and healthy lifestyle. The sessions were held as part of the KiDS (Kids and Diabetes in Schools) programme, which YRGMERF implements in Madhya Pradesh with the support of Sanofi and in association with the National Health Mission.

The training reached ASHA workers from the Ratibad, Kolar, Mishrod and Adampur sectors of Phanda block, with meetings held across both Phanda Rural and Phanda Urban. One session at Gandhi Nagar CHC (Seva Bharti Ashram) alone brought together 85 ASHA workers and four sector supervisors.

Facilitators took participants through the early signs and symptoms of diabetes, the steps a family can take to prevent it, and the daily habits that help lower risk. Much of the discussion centred on the ASHA worker's position as the first point of contact for most households, and on how a short, well-timed conversation during a home visit can prompt someone to get tested before the disease advances.

District Community Coordinator Mr Nilesh and Block Community Coordinator Mr Rewa Shankar attended the programme, along with other officials from the Health Department.

“ASHA workers are the closest link most families have to the health system. When they can recognise the early signs of diabetes and raise it during a routine visit, we reach people well before the illness turns serious. Reaching over 350 of them in a single week in Bhopal tells us how much appetite there is for this kind of knowledge,”

said Aylur K Srikrishnan, Chief Operating Officer, YRGMERF.

The ASHA workers trained this week will carry what they learned into their regular home visits and community meetings. For YRGMERF, this widens the reach of the KiDS programme beyond the classroom and into the households that frontline workers see every day.

About the KiDS programme

KiDS (Kids and Diabetes in Schools) is an initiative of the International Diabetes Federation, supported by Sanofi. It builds awareness of diabetes and encourages the healthy habits that help prevent type 2 diabetes. In India, YRGMERF delivers the programme in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, reaching school communities and frontline health workers.

About YRGMERF

YR Gaitonde Medical Educational and Research Foundation (YRGMERF) is a Chennai-based public health organisation with more than 30 years of work across over 25 Indian states. It operates YRGCARE as its principal clinical unit and delivers programmes spanning HIV, TB, hepatitis, non-communicable diseases and community health.