In recent times, the nation has been faced with an upsurge of diabetes, a non-communicable disease (NCD) that has cut down the lives of Nigerians within the productive age bracket. More worrisome is the 2013 International Diabetes Federation (IDF) which reveals that Nigeria has the highest number of people with diabetes in Africa with 3.9 million cases and 4.9 percent national prevalence rate.
With diabetes in Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy likely to rise given its growing population size, experts say that dearth of coordinated awareness and absence of specific diagnostic centres for diabetes and other NCDs is fuelling the rise in the prevalence of the disease.
Sunny Chinenye, President, Diabetes Association of Nigeria(DAN) said that as diabetes being a multi-faceted disease requiring multi discipline approach to be effectively managed and controlled in any country, a central unit to coordinate such programme cannot therefore be overemphasized.
Chinenye stated that in a country with less than 100 diabetologists, few nutritionist, few diabetes educators to look after the estimated 6 million people suffering from the disease, there is a lot of concern.
‘The need to have a specific training centre for effecting training on Diabetes in Nigeria needs urgent attention. Having a well equipped centre with high caliber of professionals will in no doubt raise the confidence of Nigerians to seek for treatment locally rather than wasting time, energy and resources elsewhere.
‘Absence of specific diagnostic centre for Diabetes and other non-communicable diseases in Nigeria conspires to increase the number of people living and dying with undiagnosed or poorly diagnosed and managed diabetes thereby robbing the country of distinguished leaders, scholars and professionals. Regular screening to detect unknown diabetes would greatly help in addressing the present epidemic state of diabetes in Nigeria particularly if organized and conducted centrally in the entire nation,’ Chinenye explained.
He continued, ‘Absence of coordinated diabetes education programmes and activities towards prevention of diabetes would continue to increase the number of “high risk group” as Diabetes is a life style related disease that can be effectively prevented through education and enlightenment. Records of achievements from existing diabetes centres in UK, USA, Italy, Japan, and those in African countries such as South Africa, Ethiopia and Uganda in the areas of training, treatment, diagnosis and education further highlights its usefulness. Nigeria can therefore not afford to do without such a centre if our vision to reach the populace would be realized. ‘
Friday Enaholo, marketing manager, Fidson Healthcare Plc, disclosed that said the rate of diabetes globally is worrisome and should be a major concern for Nigerians, therefore all stakeholders must join hands and support government in making concerted effort at reducing diabetes in the country through public enlightenment on the importance of healthy diet and lifestyle as a preventive measure.
Enaholo stated that as a pharmaceutical firm that believes in adding value in human lives, Fidson Healthcare plc has in place a Diabetes Biopen which is given to patients at no cost in a move aimed at ensuring these patients do not experience difficulty in administering insulin, an antidote to control the sugar level in a diabetes sufferer.
“We cannot fold our hands and watch diabetes ravage the health of Nigerians that is why we partner with various medical and health association across the country to draw awareness on the need to maintain healthy lifestyle. Our sales representatives scattered across the country also organise fora with health practitioners and the community to educate people on what to do to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The health of the people is the health of the nation. We therefore need to prevent this impending menace by educating Nigerians on the danger of diabetes and how they can prevent it through healthy eating and living”, Enaholo explained.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that Diabetes Mellitus affects over 366 Million people worldwide, and many without efficacious diabetes care. A recent revelation by the WHO indicates that Diabetes has tripled
The disease has reached an epidemic proportion in Nigeria according to recent publications and has resulted to premature death of thousands of Nigerians in addition to permanent disabilities like blindness, amputation of limbs, impotence, kidney failures, still births, pregnancy wastages etc.
Diabetes is a chronic disease, which occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. This leads to an abnormally high level of glucose in the blood (hyperglycaemia). Hyperglycaemia or raised blood sugar is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and over time leads to serious damage to many of the body’s systems, especially the nerves and blood vessels, leading to irreversible blindness, stroke, kidney failure, erectile dysfunction, limb amputation etc.
ALEXANDER CHIEJINA
