5 days Ago By Lara Adejoro
Lara Adejoro Medical experts have decried the skyrocketing cost and scarcity of diabetes medications in the country. This was even as they said the number of diabetic patients had increased to about 14 million in Nigeria. November 14 is World Diabetes Day, and this year’s theme is “Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps.
” Speaking with our correspondent, a Consultant Physician and Diabetologist, Dr Mansur Ramalan lamented the high cost and unavailability of diabetes drugs. Ramalan, a first Vice President of the Diabetes Association of Nigeria, said, “Diabetic patients are suffering both high costs of drugs and unavailability of drugs because three of those companies that are marketing these drugs have left the country, including Sanofi Aventis which is majorly producing insulin. “These drugs have been sold to what they call third parties because the people who are marketing them are no longer doing that in Nigeria.
So once they go to third parties, the prices will naturally increase. Then, secondly because of the problems of the exchange rate, the prices have skyrocketed. So, there’s a problem of affordability, there’s a problem of availability and accessibility.
These are the challenges facing now,” he stated. The expert noted that the government needs to address the issues of diabetes to reduce the pain of the patients. “The association wrote to the government this year about the cost of drugs, but nothing was done about it.
Last week, we heard that there are free cesarean sections for women, so if they could do that for them, they can also address our concerns. “Currently, we have about four to six per cent prevalence in Nigeria. so, we are projecting about 12-14 million Nigerians living with diabetes.
It’s increasing every year. The 1991 survey showed about 2.4 per cent, but now, we are dealing with about 5.
7 to six per cent,” he added. Corroborating, a Professor of Public Health at the University of Ilorin and former National Chairman, Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria, Prof Tanimola Akande said diabetes is a chronic non-communicable disease with high prevalence and burden in Nigeria. “World Diabetes Day is an opportunity to raise awareness on diabetes and provide opportunities for screening of the populace on diabetes.
“It also allows government and other stakeholders to prioritise activities and programs that address prevention and control of diabetes,” he said. Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti last Thursday warned that the number of people living with diabetes in the African region is projected to rise to 54 million by 2045, marking the highest predicted increase globally if urgent action is not taken. On her part, Moeti said, “In the WHO African Region alone, more than 24 million adults are currently living with diabetes, half of whom remain undiagnosed.
Left untreated, diabetes can lead to complications such as heart disease, stroke, nerve damage, kidney failure, lower limb amputation, and eye disease that can result in blindness. “Without urgent interventions, predictions are that the number of people living with diabetes in the African Region will rise to 54 million by 2045, the highest projected increase globally. This poses a significant dual health and economic burden, including catastrophic spending by individuals to control their disease.
“Compounding the challenge is that Africa has the lowest investment rate in diabetes care worldwide, at only one per cent of the region’s health expenditure. Health systems are also traditionally designed to deal with acute, infectious diseases, without sufficient attention paid to chronic diseases like diabetes.” She emphasised that managing diabetes requires a sustained effort to balance physical health activity, healthy diet, and mental well-being, and WHO in the African Region is committed to holistic solutions, including proper nutrition, access to the requisite essential medicines, and mental health support.
She said it is important to address risk factors including obesity, poor diet and activity, combined with community engagement to ensure good support systems and reduced stigma. “In an important step forward at the Seventy-fourth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa in August this year, African Member States endorsed WHO’s Framework for the Implementation of the Global Diabetes Compact in Africa. Focused specifically on the challenge of integrating diabetes care into broader health systems in a multi-sectoral approach, it provides a roadmap for countries to strengthen diabetes prevention, diagnosis, and care, especially at the primary health care level.
“On World Diabetes Day today, I urge individuals, communities, governments, health workers, policymakers, and civil society organisations to join hands and act now. For individuals, prioritise a healthy lifestyle, and if you’re already living with diabetes, have regular medical check-ups. “Communities can play their role by creating supportive environments that promote healthy living, reduce stigma, and provide access to affordable diabetes care and education.
For governments, we commit our full support to your efforts to implement policies that enhance access to essential medicines, strengthen primary health care systems, and foreground investment in diabetes prevention and care,” she highlighted. Moeti concluded that strengthening diabetes control in the African region demands addressing key gaps, including myths and misconceptions about diabetes, fragile primary health care systems and insufficient capacity and training of health care workers. Copyright PUNCH All rights reserved.
This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH. Contact: [email protected] Tags #Diabetes complications #Preventing diabetes 2024 World Diabetes Day diabetes Diabetes drugs.
