The Chief Secretary was full of praise for the Rotary Club’s Diabetes Awareness drive, when he met with recently appointed 7030 District Governor, Anthony Watkins. Mr. Watkins indicated that under his leadership much emphasis will be placed on diabetes awareness and diabetic health care.  
District Governor Watkins who is a native of Barbados noted that his passion for diabetes awareness stems in part, from the high number of diabetics in his homeland. Mr Watkins is on a two-day trip to Tobago, to pay his first official visit to all rotary clubs in District 7030.

President of the Rotary Club of South West Tobago, Joseph Morrison accompanied the Commissioner and said that his Club has been active in this campaign, since 2005. He added that over the next 12 months, the Club intends to host (4) four major activities, which will focus on diabetics and diabetes prevention. These include a Diabetes Awareness Week from 10th – 14th November where the public will be able to interface with a team of visiting specialist doctors doing lecture presentations. During this week the Club will also host a health walk and set up a health booth for two days, at the Gulf City Lowlands Mall, where the public can access blood sugar testing and other services.

According to the Mr. Morrison, the Club also proposes to partner with the Division of Health and Social Services to bring to Tobago Professor Karrel Bakker, a specialist in internal medicine, diabetology and endocrinology from the Netherlands, to train health care professionals in the step-by-step approach to diabetic foot-care. Additionally, in August of 2011, the Club intends to again host the very successful Obesity Camp for young people. The Camp was first held at the Red Cross Building, Signal Hill, but the next camp will be held in a windward community, the Rotarian president added.