PROFILE
Brampton MP Sonia Sidhu champions diabetes awareness in Canada By Ramya Ramanathan
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id you know that diabetes affects 11 million Canadians and can lead to lifethreatening complications if not treated? That in Canada’s South Asian community, one in six residents suffers from diabetes or pre-diabetes and the rate is only growing? Since her election in 2015 as the member of parliament (MP) for Brampton South, Indian-born Sonia Sidhu has been on the forefront of the #LetsDefeatDiabetes campaign in Canada. After dozens of consultations over the years, MP Sonia Sidhu has put forward Private Member’s Bill C-237 towards tacking diabetes, which received unanimous support from all parties and will be sent to the Senate after finishing its third reading in the House of Commons. Bill C-237, also known as the National Framework for Diabetes Act, aims to raise awareness about diabetes and prediabetes, guide health care and other professionals in preventing and treating diabetes, and promote research, data collection and information sharing need for better care and support among my friends and neighbours to prevent and treat this disease. in Brampton,” she says. Once this act comes into force, The disease is spread across the minister of health will publish a national framework for diabetes for all communities. “Diabetes also disproportionately affects First the nation to follow. Nations, who are three to four This journey to this bill, and it times more likely to have it than the being only a couple of steps away general population. Having seen the from becoming Canadian legislation, effects of this disease up close and spans beyond the six years in knowing that it is often preventable, politics for MP Sidhu. With 18 I know we must be proactive in this years of experience as a health care fight,” she says. professional, Sidhu entered the world Sidhu was aware that the number of politics with a deep understanding of health care needs across the of diagnoses in Canada had doubled in the last 20 years, and that patients country, most notably diabetes. with cardiovascular disease, kidney “I saw a lot of newcomers affected disease, amputation or high blood by diabetes over many years. The pressure, would often have diabetes rate of diabetes has increased over as an underlying and complicating the years, affecting South Asian condition. Canadians predominantly. Being a South Asian Canadian, I saw the In 2019, Sidhu’s motion to declare
a series of consultations with Canadians regarding Canada’s Healthy Eating Strategy, revisions to Canada’s Food Guide, and reducing the marketing of unhealthy foods to children. Sidhu has been committed to putting into place a national plan for tackling this disease for over two decades. “Canada needs a single national strategy to fight diabetes, created in cooperation with the provinces, territories, indigenous groups and all other stakeholders. We need to raise awareness and promote education about best practices. We need to standardize treatment across the country, so your level of care is not dependent on where you live. And we need to fund research so that Canada can eventually lead the way to a cure,” she says. She also highlights that the current pandemic has caused many challenges that need to be dealt with. “The economic insecurity, lack November as Diabetes Awareness of physical activity and mental month was passed unanimously in health struggles associated with the pandemic all have a negative the House of Commons. impact on those living with diabetes. “Canadians recognize that Unfortunately, many Canadians this is one of the most common are also delaying regular health chronic conditions in the country, appointments during the pandemic, and most people have a friend or so it is likely that many people family member living with diabetes. developing diabetes are having their This is why my motion to declare cases go undetected.” November as Diabetes Awareness Last year on World Diabetes month was passed unanimously in the House of Commons, and Day, Sonia visited the house where this recognition was also made by Canadian scientist, co-discoverer of insulin and Nobel Prize winner Brampton city council,” she says. Dr. Frederick Banting grew up in Whether it be helping fellow London, Ontario. Here she rekindled members of parliament understand the Flame of Hope – a symbolic the potential impacts of diabetes, torch which has burned since 1989 meeting with doctors from across to honour his discovery, which is to the country, or speaking with the be only extinguished when there is local community, Sonia Sidhu has a true cure. That is why MP Sidhu introduced the lens of diabetes in finishes every speech with: “Canada all fields of her work nationally and gave insulin to the world. Why can internationally. This has included we not lead the way?” CANADIANIMMIGRANT.CA |
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