Diabetes awareness drive launched in Kariba

By OLIVER SAMBOKO

THE Lions Club District 412 has launched a campaign to fight diabetes in the Zimbabwean Tourism Resort Town of Kariba on the Border with Zambia.

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimates that 371 million people worldwide have diabetes, a global epidemic that is expected to affect 552 million by 2030.

With these statistics and concerns in mind, Lions International, the biggest charity organisation in the world, has come up with a Diabetes Awareness and Action Programme.

During the campaign, the Lion Club would carry out diabetes screening and treatment in all the communities around Kariba and on island on Lake Kariba.

The Organisers for the event have told the Daily Nation which is covering the event that the major objective for the campaign was to bring awareness to the communities on the danger of the major World’s silent killer and how they can live a healthy life.

Lion Chipo Ziki said that Lions’ work supports diabetes awareness, education, control, prevention and research. She emphasised that “A screening test can detect the possibility of diabetes and residents of Kariba will be tested at no cost.

She further said the campaign is targeting 300 people and the Municipality of Kariba has offered their two clinics which are Nyamhunga and Mahombekombe for use together with nursing staff.

And Team leader and Kariba Lions Club President Lion Surge Butau expressed satisfaction with the arrangements and thanked the Diabetes Association of Zimbabwe for partnering with his organisation to bring diabetes awareness to the people of Kariba.

"We are here in Kariba today for our diabetes campaign. We will mobilise the residents of Kariba to come in their numbers to get tested for diabetes and learn more about the disease that is fast becoming the world's number one killer,” he said during his briefing to the local and international media at the start of the campaign.

And Region President Lion Patrick Chifamba has called on Kariba community to utilise this opportunity and be educated on what diabetes is all about as he encouraged the region Lions Clubs to be at today’s campaign in Kariba.