Africa: Initiative to Curb Rising Diabetes Cases
By George Okore
NAIROBI---An African wide campaign dubbed Intense Diabetes Initiative has been launched to embrace healthy living, encourage testing and enhance prevention and management to influence the lives of citizens.
On Tuesday, LifeScan a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson company unveiled in Nairobi a campaign to curb the rise of diabetes complications with alarming statistics indicating that one out of 20 Kenyans is diabetic. The campaign dubbed Project Embrace with the tagline ‘Simple touches, better life,’ targets to reach 5 million families by 2018 across Africa by enhancing awareness, financial and geographical access, and promoting accurate testing.
The launch follows two important meetings held to tackle the diabetes menace. In September 2011, countries promised at United Nations General Assembly to put diabetes at the forefront of their healthcare concerns. In July 2012, the inaugural African Diabetes Congress organized by International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Africa Region in Arusha, Tanzania addressed ways of improving life for people living with diabetes and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Kenya is amongst top six Africa countries including Ghana, Nigeria, DRC, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia, with highest number of diabetics. Kenya is among six African countries with the highest number of diabetes patients with 1.8 million people living with the disease.
Lifescan Vice President Les Klanjnscek says the biggest challenge facing these countries is the rising number of young people living with the disease. Sedentary lifestyle, refined foods and urbanization are some of the factors fuelling the spread of the disease. He says the campaign will encourage diabetics to embrace healthy living through Lifescan’s Lamasat family support program. It is themed around 4 C’s, Check blood sugar regularly, Control the highs and lows of glucose levels, Consume healthy food and Care for yourself by exercising and adopting a healthy lifestyle.”
The initiative comes in the wake fears that those suffering from diabetes are projected to double in 20 years if nothing impactful is done. This is a cause for concern with ignorance, awareness and accessibility gaps as major limitations to proper detection, prevention and management of the disease.
Endorsing the campaign, award winning musician Wahu Kagwi, said there was need for people to get tested as there are associated lifestyles changes fueling diabetes. She said it was unfortunate that many Kenyans are unaware of their diabetic status and seek treatment when the condition has advanced. “Anyone can get diabetes and therefore it is advisable that you check your blood sugar levels regularly, save a life today,” Wahu urged.
According to the International Diabetes Federation, 11.6 million cases are undiagnosed in Africa. Worse, there are substandard gluco-meters in the market resulting in improper diagnosis, which leads to mismanagement of the disease and death. Consequently, the campaign will not only promote healthy living but also advocate for use of quality gluco-meters and apparatus for precision in diagnosis.
The Diabetes Management and Information Centre Executive Director, Eva Muchemi, said promoting testing is critical to ensuring that diabetics are aware of their status, have a better understanding and management of diabetes. Ms Muchemi says the youngest patient at the institution is only four months old. In 2010, the centre was providing treatment for 50 diabetes patients under the age of 18. The number has risen to 358 this year. About two thirds of the patients are below the age of 14.
LifeScan in collaboration with KDDA and DMI are also working on how to cost effect the disease as it is expensive to manage. According to a Journal of Medical Economics study by Weber C, it is estimated that a diabetic averagely uses Kshs.349, 800 annually. “This is a major setback to those in the low income bracket who have limited funds hence succumb to the condition, especially if complications arise,” noted Muchemi.
According to KDDA Chairman Ruben Magoko, there are existing diabetes support groups in 24 counties across the country. Magoko sayus thee organization aims to expand its program to ensure accessibility to health facilities and resources. Additionally, LifeScan offers blood glucose monitoring systems tailored for point-of-care institutions and provides a 24-hour Health Care Professional (HCP) Hotline for technical product support and current regulatory information.