A Pharmacy student from Leicester, UK, is putting into practice the skills he has learnt as part of his degree to assist a diabetes charity supported by Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan.
Shailen Karia, 20, has just finished his second year of study at De Montfort University (DMU) and will head out to Goa on 20 September to spend two weeks testing people for diabetes.
The trip has been organised by DMU Pharmacy Professor Joan Taylor and Silver Star Appeal, a charity which campaigns to provide diabetes awareness.
The charity was founded in 2007 by British MP Keith Vaz after he was diagnosed with the condition. In August 2008, International Patron, Amitabh Bachchan, was invited by Keith Vaz to open the headquarters of the charity, where he also took a diabetes test as an example to Leicester’s Asian community.
Amitabh was also made an Honorary Doctor of Arts at DMU in 2006.
Other international supporters of the charity now also include Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty.
Silver Star has recently opened an office in Goa and Shailen will travel around in one of the charity’s Mobile Diabetes Assessment Units offering free testing to people in the community.
During his trip Shailen will also spend some time at the country’s largest pharmaceutical company, Ranbaxy.
Shailen, who has family in the Gujarat District, said: “I have always wanted to volunteer abroad so was ecstatic when Professor Taylor told me I had been chosen for the placement.
“The experience I will gain on this trip will be invaluable to my career and I really can’t wait to go!”
Keith Vaz added: “I am delighted that DMU has found a student so enthusiastic about increasing diabetes awareness in India. This trip will be of huge benefit to Silver Star and to Shailen.”
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