How Women Health Workers Are Turning the Tide on Diabetes in India

News Desk, News Nation 360 : As India prepares to commemorate World Diabetes Day 2025, the emphasis shifts not just to patients, but also to the unsung heroes who are quietly altering the course of chronic illness in distant parts of the country. These heroes are known as iCHAs at iKure, and they are community-based women health workers who are changing the way diabetes is recognised, controlled, and avoided in rural India. Diabetes is one of India's most serious public health issues, impacting more than 100 million adults. The burden is not limited to metropolitan areas; rural India is experiencing a silent pandemic that goes untreated until difficulties occur. Diabetes management is difficult due to barriers such as a lack of regular screening, restricted access to specialists, and low lifestyle awareness. The iCHA Model at iKure empowers women from within their communities as trained Community Health Activists-iCHAs who deliver grassroots healthcare via door-to-door screenings, using the digital platform at iKure called WHIMS and portable diagnostic tools for monitoring diabetes, BMI, and blood glucose. These trusted women render continued care to guide the families in adopting healthier lifestyles, ensure follow-ups, and enable teleconsultations in high-risk cases. The model has showcased a transformative impact in rural districts of West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand by improving early detection and management of diabetes and reducing unnecessary hospital admissions by over 30%. Stories such as that of a Bajji vendor's mother in Kharagpur, who regained her eyesight post-integrated diabetes care, speak to the comprehensive approach of iKure, combining empathy, technology, and local trust. WHIMS ensures real-time data recording and follow-up even in low-connectivity areas, thus helping doctors with actionable insights for better decision-making, proving how technology and community engagement go a long way in improving chronic disease outcomes efficiently.

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