Aahwahan Foundation Launches Diabetic-Free Village Initiative Across 8 Villages in Dharwad, Karnataka
Dharwad: Aahwahan Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of India’s first-ever Diabetic-Free Village Initiative in Dharwad, Karnataka-a pioneering preventive healthcare movement aimed at transforming the health landscape of rural India. The initiative aims to curb the rising incidence of diabetes in rural and underserved areas where early diagnosis and preventive healthcare are scarce. In its first phase, the program is being implemented across 14 rural villages in Karnataka and Maharashtra, including 8 villages in the Dharwad district of Karnataka and 6 villages in the Nashik district of Maharashtra. The initiative emphasizes diabetes prevention and early detection through free diabetes screenings, health awareness programs, nutrition guidance, and lifestyle education, all delivered directly at the grassroots level to empower communities with knowledge and sustainable health practices.
Speaking on the launch, Mr. Braja Kishore Pradhan, Founder of Aahwahan Foundation, shared, “When I first learned about the villages of Dharwad, I decided to visit them personally. What I witnessed made it immediately clear that this initiative was urgently needed. Due to financial difficulties, many villagers were unable to travel to the city repeatedly for medical treatment, leaving their health conditions unmanaged. Diabetes, in particular, quietly takes away precious years from lives already struggling to access even basic healthcare. This project was born from the pain I have seen in rural communities-people suffering not because treatment does not exist, but because preventive care never reaches them. It became essential to bring comprehensive and preventive healthcare services directly to their village. Our goal is to ensure that access to timely medical support reaches every rural community, empowering people to live healthier, longer, and more secure lives.”
In Dharwad district, the program covers 8 villages: Kottur, Mummigati, Belur, Venkatpur, Tegur, Niralakatti, Chikkamalligawad, and Hiremalligawad. In total, these villages have a population of 26580 individuals, out of whom 6210 individuals have been impacted with diabetes screening, health awareness, and other lifestyle changes. To bring relief from diabetes in villages, it is essential that villagers receive regular and consistent treatment. Every week, the Aahwahan team conducts diabetes check-ups and screenings, provides test reports, and ensures that villagers receive proper education, medicines, and equipment. The organization also provides villagers with a Diabetes Kit, which includes testing machines and necessary medicines. Along with medical support, awareness is created among villagers about diabetes prevention, risk factors, and adopting a healthy lifestyle. Based on test results and screenings, villagers are categorized into three groups: Borderline Individuals, High-Risk Individuals, and Already Diabetic Patients. Tailored treatment and care are then provided to each individual according to their category, ensuring that every person receives the support they need for better health and well-being.
A beneficiary from one of the villages, Sameer Gowda, shared how the initiative has made a real difference, “Living with diabetes was a daily struggle for me. As a poor farmer, traveling to the city for treatment was expensive and exhausting. Many times, I had to skip my check-ups and medicines because I simply could not afford the journey to the nearest city or the hospital costs. My health slowly started getting worse, and I felt helpless. But after Aahwahan’s initiative began in our village, my life changed. Now I receive regular treatment right here, without leaving my village. The Aahwahan team visits our village every week to provide treatment and distribute medicines. They provided me with a diabetes testing kit, so I can monitor my sugar levels myself at home. The team visits us every week, checks on my health, and gives me medicines on time. For the first time in years, I feel cared for and secure. Aahwahan has not only treated my illness but has also removed the fear and uncertainty from my life. Today, I can work, support my family, and live with hope again.”
The Diabetic-Free Village Initiative offers free diabetes screenings, health education, nutritional guidance, and lifestyle education to rural communities, providing them with the essential resources to manage and improve their health. By focusing on prevention and early intervention, the program helps reduce long-term medical expenses while promoting sustainable, healthier living.
