Today, 14 November 2012, we, in the WHO African Region, join the rest of the world in commemorating World Diabetes Day, under the slogan “Diabetes: protect our future”. The commemoration reminds us of the absolute need to change unhealthy lifestyles and promote physical activity and healthy diet as an effective and low-cost means to prevent diabetes and thereby protect our future. The theme chosen for this Day: “Diabetes Education and Prevention", rightly highlights the critical role of education and prevention in the fight against diabetes.
Diabetes is a serious, chronic and costly disease that imposes life-long demands not only on people living with the disease, but also on their families. It is estimated that some 230 million people worldwide currently suffer from the disease and this number is likely to more than double by 2030 if effective interventions are not undertaken. Sub-Saharan Africa has not been spared in this escalation, and it is estimated that, should current trends continue, the Region will witness a 98% increase from 12.1 million cases in 2010 to 23.9 million cases by 2030. Death due to diabetes is common today even among people aged 20–39 years, the most economically productive segment of the population.
Surveys carried out recently in the WHO African Region indicate that up to 15% of adults aged 25-64 years have diabetes and the overwhelming majority are unaware that they have the disease. Consequently many cases are diagnosed late, usually after complications have become so evident. Furthermore, a significant number of diabetes patients in Africa lack access to proper treatment and diabetes medicines, especially insulin, resulting in avoidable complications such as neurological, vascular or visual disorders, heart disease, stroke, lower limb amputation and kidney failure, as well as other chronic diseases.
Reversing the current trend of diabetes in the Region is feasible if ministries of health and communities work together to reduce diabetes risk factors such as overweight, obesity, physical inactivity, tobacco use and consumption of foods with high content of fats and energy, and to consume more fruits and vegetables. In recognition of the challenges posed by diabetes and other noncommunicable diseases, countries in the Region committed themselves to strengthening prevention and control of diabetes and other noncommunicable diseases by signing and adopting the Mauritius Call for Action, the Brazzaville Declaration on NCDs and the UN high level meeting’s Political Declaration on NCDs.
We need to accelerate efforts by creating local and regional awareness of diabetes and empowering individuals and communities to take steps to prevent the disease and its many life- threatening and health-impairing complications.
Today, as WHO engages people in a worldwide campaign to protect our future from diabetes, I call upon Member States of the WHO African Region to scale up the development and implementation of comprehensive and integrated diabetes prevention and control programmes.
Local authorities as well as community health leaders are encouraged to use all the appropriate means of communication to improve awareness of diabetes and empower communities to protect their health. For their part, people affected by diabetes, people at high risk of the disease and the general public should make deliberate efforts to improve their knowledge of the disease and the management and prevention of its attendant complications.
May I give the assurance that WHO will continue to support countries in collaboration with development partners and all stakeholders to address the burden of diabetes in the Region.
Let us all work together to take control over diabetes. The time to act is NOW.
Thank you.