Abuja, 15 November, 2022 – Commemorating the 2022 World Diabetes Day, the Nigeria Minister of State for Well being, Ekumankama Joseph Nkama, on 14 November, emphasised that elevated entry to diabetes schooling among the many populace is vital to the prevention and administration of the illness.

The minister, in a press briefing in Abuja, mentioned that a big majority of individuals dwelling with the illness in Nigeria have little or no information of diabetes and its problems, and this has been growing the danger of growing the illness.

He lamented the low information of diabetes amongst Nigerians –  prevention, testing and treatment- has been contributing to the growing prevalence of instances and mortality from the illness. 


Mr Nkama mentioned diabetes stays a significant public well being drawback, and might be successfully prevented or managed by way of public well being consciousness creation on wholesome way of life decisions, capability constructing of the well being staff and enhancing the capability degree of the take care of prognosis, remedy and assist.

“The prevalence of diabetes is growing worldwide, particularly the danger of diabetes sort 2 among the many inhabitants. The World Well being Group (WHO) estimates the prevalence of diabetes in Nigeria to be 4.3% and the prevalence is essentially attributed to the approach to life adjustments  brought on  by urbanization and its outcomes; industries producing unhealthy diets together with sugar-sweetened drinks, lack of train, tobacco use and dangerous use of alcohol. 

Moreover, the dearth of entry to correct schooling for the prevention of Kind 2 diabetes, lack of schooling for these dwelling with all sorts of diabetes, and entry to reasonably priced remedy, together with insulin, has been affecting the administration of the illness within the nation, he mentioned.

He, due to this fact, urged non secular and group leaders, stakeholders and the media to accentuate consciousness creation about diabetes to enhance the prevention of the illness and the health-seeking behaviour of individuals with the illness. 

The minister additionally appreciated companions, together with the WHO and others, for his or her effort in elevating consciousness concerning the illness, and defending Nigerians from all non-communicable and communicable illnesses. 


In his goodwill message, the WHO Nation Consultant, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, mentioned the worldwide group marks World Diabetes Day on 14 November yearly, to boost consciousness of the rising burden of this illness, and methods to stop and handle the menace.

He mentioned the theme for this 12 months is once more “Entry to diabetes care”, because it was final 12 months, and can be once more in 2023, and it highlights the significance of diabetes prevention and response efforts in keeping with the objective of the WHO Director-Basic to vary the well being system towards ‘prevention care and never sick care’.

Dr Mulombo advocated for elevated schooling, and entry to diagnostic instruments and medicines, significantly insulin, as probably the most pressing areas of labor to detect diabetes. 


He defined that if the illness is left unchecked, and with out administration and way of life adjustments, diabetes can result in a number of debilitating problems. 

“Sadly, response efforts are constrained by the truth that multiple in each two folks in Africa dwelling with Diabetes mellitus has by no means been recognized. 

“We commit our full assist to the requisite coaching of well being staff within the prevention and administration of NCDs at group ranges, to enhance the provision of those providers, he mentioned.

In the meantime, the spotlight of the press briefing was the launch of the iCARE initiative, a technique led by the Federal Ministry of Well being in partnership with Novo Nordisk. Its purpose  is to supply entry to reasonably priced diabetes care to weak sufferers in Nigeria and guarantee no youngster dies from sort 1 diabetes.