Diabetes threatens 50 per cent
Ghanaians
Accra, Oct. 27, Ghanadot/GNA-Diabetes have been
identified as the cause of prolonged ill health in at
least 2.2 million Ghanaians and threatens 50 per cent of
all Ghanaian patients.
Globally, at least one person dies every 10 seconds out
of the disease and four people's legs are amputated
every 30 seconds as a result of diabetic complications.
Dr Kwamena Beecham, President of the Ghana Diabetes
Association who made this known at a press briefing on
the current Diabetic situation in Ghana said there was
the need for public concern as well as government
policies and measures to reverse the trend.
He said at an estimation of more than 360 million
persons likely to get the disease by 2025, with 90 per
cent said to come from low and middle -income countries,
Ghana must no longer relent in efforts to give the
disease similar attention as given to communicable
diseases like Malaria, Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.
According to him, Ghana unlike other countries have
their productive force between ages 35 and 64 at greater
risk, adding that in sub-Saharan Africa, Diabetes cost
30 per cent of countries budget.
Dr Beecham attributed the high prevalence in developing
countries to under nutrition, over nutrition (Overweight
and obesity) and a shift from the consumption of
traditional food to more processed, polished and animal
sourced foods that were high in fats and sugar.
To help reverse the trend, he said, the 2007 World
Diabetes Day was been celebrated on the theme: "Diabetes
Care For Everyone" to create awareness on the disease
and ensure that diabetes care become optimal for all,
especially children and adolescents.
He said there was also the need to have public health
and clinical guidelines of a national diabetes programme
to avoid stigmatisation against diabetic patients and
reinforce diabetic care families for research and
excellent care.
The GDA President also expressed disappointment that
diabetic patients who were among victims hit by floods
in the three northern regions have not receive any drugs
since the disaster occurred, saying, " their health are
at risk and government should provide them with their
drugs apart from food to sustain their lives.
He also urged the general public to regularly test their
sugar levels and to desist from eating at irregular
intervals, drinking high sugar level drinks, excessive
alcohol, overeating and fatty meat.
Dr Beecham also appealed to government to subsidise
diabetic drugs and urged the general public to support
and join the Association to learn moreabout the disease.
GNA
