Diabetes cases to rise to 578 million globally
FOUR HUNDRED AND SIXTY THREE million cases of diabetes were recorded globally by 2016 and expected to increase to 578 million by 2030, Diabetes Association of Zambia President Dr Mbinga Mbinga.
Speaking during the commemoration of World Diabetes Day, Dr Mbinga said globally every 8 seconds a one person dies from diabetes related illness and that in Zambia the cases increased from three per cent in 2017 to 6.1 per cent in 2019.
He however said that diabetes is a preventable disease by following health guidelines such as avoiding risk factors like tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and overweight/ obesity.
Dr Mbinga stated that with Covid 19 pandemic, diabetes patients have suffered another setback as patients are likely to develop a severe form of the disease and die.
He observed that the supply chain disruptions has caused a lot of suffering for diabetic patients and called on government and other stakeholders to protect patients with diabetes during this period of Covid 19.
And Lions Club of Woodlands Kabwe Kandeke said that this year’s commemoration is being conducted in the midst of the deadly Corona virus and that diabetes is one of the underlying conditions that make one more vulnerable to Covid 19.
Mr Kandeke said that in fighting the pandemic, foot soldiers who are nurses have been in the forefront hence the need to recognize and appreciate them.
He said that Lions club of Woodlands have partnered with the Argawal Eye hospital in commemorating Worlds Diabetes Day.
Mr Kandeke disclosed that the Lions Club of Woodlands has embarked on a project to rehabilitate the Children’s dry transit mortuary at the
UTH and transform it into a refrigerated mortuary.
“However, over the year, we have not supported this infrastructure and has somewhat deteriorated, but now we want to resume our support by first renovating it so that it becomes operable. We will be carrying out a number of fund-raising activities to enable us meet the cost of renovations which is pegged at US$7,033,” he said.