Posts
The Ogun State government has joined the rest of the world to commemorate the 2020 World Diabetes Day, calling on all stakeholders to raise more awareness for the disease.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, in a press statement, described diabetes as a disease that deserves more attention than it gets, saying one out of 10 people worldwide lives with the disease.
Coker said 70% of the estimated 4 million people living with diabetes in Nigeria are unaware of their status, adding that the disease is a major cause of blindness, heart attacks, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, and lower limb amputation.
She said the World Diabetes Day, which is celebrated on November 14 annually, remained a huge opportunity for people to learn about the symptoms, preventative measures, management, and treatment of the disease.
According to her, “Some of the early symptoms of the disease are extreme fatigue, weight loss, increased appetite, and insatiable thirst. Sadly, many people living with the disease in our climes disregard these warning signs until they start to develop complications. This underscores the importance of early diagnosis.”
“The good news is that the consequences of diabetes can be avoided with a healthy diet, physical activity, medication, and regular screening and treatment for complications. Anyone living with diabetes should also abstain from smoking and excessive alcohol,” She said.
The Commissioner called on all relevant stakeholders to contribute their quota towards educating and informing the general public about the disease, saying this would reduce the fatality of the disease in the long run.
No comments