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Diabetes: WHO charges govts to invest in insulin, test strips

By Hassan Zaggi

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called on governments in Africa to invest in services for the prevention and management of diabetes to ensure they are available in all communities.

In a statement to mark the World Diabetes Day, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, said that services to prevent and manage diabetes care are essential components in realizing Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

“I ask governments to invest in making essential products like insulin, blood glucometers and test strips available to all communities.

“This should be backed by training of health workers in non-communicable disease prevention and management at the district and community level towards improving service availability,” Moeti said.

She, therefore, called on all people living with diabetes to protect themselves from severe COVID-19 illness and death, by getting vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as they can.

She, however, regretted that: “In the African Region, more than 19 million people are living with diabetes and this number is expected to grow to 47 million by 2025.

“Sadly, about two-thirds of people living with diabetes in African countries are unaware of their condition.”

The WHO Chief explained that the known risk factors for diabetes include family history, age, being overweight, having a sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet, or use of alcohol or tobacco.

“Left unchecked, without management and lifestyle changes, diabetes can lead to heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, lower limb amputation, visual impairment, blindness and nerve damage, including erectile dysfunction. People with diabetes are also at higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms.

“Even when patients are diagnosed, insulin stockouts in public health facilities and the costs of insulin, result in individuals not getting the treatment they need. For example, in Ghana, it would take the average worker more than five days of earnings to save up for a monthly supply of insulin.

“In most African countries, the cost of insulin and monitoring products for diabetes and other non-communicable diseases, are paid for out of pocket by individuals and their families,” she said.

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