World Health Organization or WHO said Africa’s sharp increase in diabetes is clashing with the COVID-19 pandemic and poor access to vaccines.
Africa’s death rates from COVID-19 infections are significantly higher in patients with diabetes, according to a preliminary analysis which WHO presented on Friday ahead of World Diabetes Day on 14 November.
“COVID-19 is delivering a clear message: fighting the diabetes epidemic in Africa is in many ways as critical as the battle against the current pandemic,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.
He said “he COVID-19 pandemic will eventually subside, but Africa is projected in the coming years to experience the highest increase in diabetes globally.
“We must act now to prevent new cases, vaccinate people who have this condition and, equally importantly, identify and support the millions of Africans unaware they are suffering from this silent killer”, Dr Moeti said.
The international community will commemorate World Diabetes Day on November 14 under 2021 and until 2023 theme: “Access to diabetes care”.
The event is to raise awareness of the growing burden and strategies to prevent and treat it because too many people still do not have access to diagnosis, medicines and monitoring devices that can help with diabetes management.
This year also marks the centenary of the discovery of insulin in 1921, a scientific achievement which changed the lives of people living with diabetes.
One hundred years on from this hugely important innovation, premature death among people with diabetes is still high in many African countries, because of late diagnosis and a lack of access to insulin.