Act fast to avert diabetes catastrophe: Lankan doctor issues clarion call to UN

An urgent call to halt the diabetes epidemic before there are “catastrophic” consequences goes out from Dr. Chamari Warnapura, who was accorded the singular honour of opening a United Nations interactive hearing on the prevention and control of diabetes.

Dr. Warnapura, the Deputy Medical Director of the National Diabetes Centre (NDC) of the Diabetes Association of Sri Lanka ( DASL), spoke at the Forum on ‘Scaling up prevention and control of diabetes as an NCD (non-communicable disease) by committing to best buys to achieve the WHO Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs) by 2030’. It was held at UN Headquarters in New York on Thursday and the invitation to Dr. Warnapura came from UN General Assembly ( UNGA) President Miroslav Lajcak.

“The disease burden of diabetes in Sri Lanka is high, with nearly one in four persons affected. In the past, diabetes was an old person’s illness but now, children as young as 10 are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes,” said Dr. Warnapura who also represents the NCD Alliance Lanka (NCDAL), formed in 2016 and is based at the DASL.

She detailed the catastrophic consequences of diabetes complications as heart attacks and strokes, blindness, kidney disease leading to chronic kidney failure and amputations which maim children and the workforce, hindering Sri Lanka’s progress and productivity.

Civil society organisations and experts in the field of NCDs have been provided an opportunity at the interactive hearing to table their views on gaps and recommendation to be included in the final outcome document to be presented at the Third UN High Level Meeting scheduled for September 27 at UNGA. This High Level Meeting will be attended by world leaders, including President Maithripala Sirisena, and health ministers including Dr. Rajitha Senaratne.

NCDs are the No. 1 cause of death and disability globally.The ‘Big Five’ of NCDs are heart disease, diabetes, cancer, chronic lung disease and mental health and wellbeing. They are grouped together due to their common risk factors. Unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, stress, harmful use of tobacco and alcohol and substance abuse are the risk factors that can be modified to avoid illness. The modern lifestyle of unhealthy diet due to increased consumption of fast foods high in sugar, salt and trans- fats, physical inactivity due to sedentary lifestyles, increased stress, excessive use of alcohol and tobacco and substance abuse are all risk factors that augment the disease burden.

Meanwhile, NDC’s Honorary Director and NCDAL’s Executive Director Dr. Mahen Wijesuriya said that there is a need to create health-promoting environments that provide individuals with healthy choices, safe and convenient cycle paths and walkways, effective public transportation to reduce traffic congestion and strengthen health literacy through a combination of education and public awareness campaigns highlighting the NCD risk factors and how to identify signs and symptoms easily and facilitate early diagnosis.

He pointed out that Sri Lanka had the political commitment and will to work towards achieving the SDG goals of Universal Health Coverage ( UHC) and reduce deaths due to NCDs by one third by 2030. The country has provided its people with more than 75 percent of UHC, while positive measures are being taken to reduce disability and deaths. It has 12 years to march towards these goals to save future generations. People should be at the heart of the NCD response.

“We need to put people first; people at risk and living with NCDs, their families, and care- givers. Their views and voices cannot be ignored anymore. We need to act today to change tomorrow. Our health is our right and we need it right now,” added Dr. Wijesuriya.