From right: Mr. Blay, Mr. Denyoh and Mr. Kumi Kyeremeh
FOUR MILLION people are living with diabetes in the country according to reports from the National Diabetes Association of Ghana.
The association also indicates the number which represents almost 17% of the population is likely to rise.
This data was disclosed to journalists at the opening ceremony of the first diabetes educators training program for nurses in Accra.
Selected nurses from some regional and district hospitals across the country are expected to undergo a three-day training workshop on diabetes.
The programme organized by Ithemba Foundation and the Ministry of Health with sponsorship from LifeScan and PALB Pharmaceuticals is themed: ‘Training the Diabetics Educators.’
Freddy Blay, a member of the association and chairman for the event in his remarks commended the organizers for their initiative to create more awareness about diabetes in the country.
“It is a good beginning,” he said.
He however noted the need for more education to create awareness as many people including some health workers are still not aware of the disease.
Mr. Blay said this will help inform diabetics of their condition and ways by which they can contain it.
He also called on the government to enact laws which will make it easy for diabetics to get the right medical attention.
Executive Director of Ithembo, Samuel Denyoh noted that there are a number of diabetics who die from lack of proper management coupled with ignorance about the disease in Ghana.
“Ithemba as an organization has positioned herself to partner the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), Africa region to promote and ensure implementation of its declaration and strategy for diabetes in Ghana,” Denyoh said.
George Kumi Kyeremeh, Director of Nursing Training, reading a speech on behalf of Minister of Health, Alban Bagbin said the prevalence of diabetes had reached epidemic proportions.
He noted that currently more than 70% of people with diabetes live in low and middle income countries.
“The prevalence of diabetes is dramatically increasing in Africa with an estimated 10.4 million people living with diabetes as at 2007,” he said.
He said this emphasizes the scarcity of lack of diabetic care funding and trained health care personnel capable of tackling prevention, diagnosis and management of diabetes.
He encouraged the participants to assimilate the training program to become the focal point of diabetes educators.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri
