According to Mr Abonu, the free supply of insulin to children project, tagged "Changing Diabetes in Children", will start in 2021 in
Jude Abonu, Business Unit Head, English West Africa,
The day became an official
It is marked every year on
The 2020 theme aims to raise awareness around the crucial role that nurses play in supporting people living with diabetes.
An online medical website, Healthline.com says, "Diabetes mellitus, sometimes called "sugar diabetes', is a condition that occurs when the body can't use glucose (a type of sugar) normally.
"Glucose is the main source of energy for the body's cells. The levels of glucose in the blood are controlled by a hormone called insulin, which is made by the pancreas," it says.
According to Mr Abonu, the free supply of insulin to children project, tagged "Changing Diabetes in Children", will start in 2021 in
"Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a lifelong disease condition that requires (a) holistic approach in its management.
"Insulin consumption in
"All healthcare practitioners should work together to ensure that the outcome and prognosis get better for patients who are living with diabetes.
"In contributing our quota to diabetes care and management,
"Through this programme, we are going to be giving free insulin for the next three years to children who are below 21-years, living with diabetes. It is going to be launched Quarter one of 2021.
"It has been approved. We are also working on how to give insulin at highly subsidised price to seniors. Those who are above 55 who are indigent, who do not have enough income or money to pay for their insulin," he said.
Antonia Ogbera, a Consultant Physician and Endocrinologist at the
Ms Ogbera spoke on the topic: "The rising burden of diabetes: the facts, the figures and the drivers of the disease in
According to Ms Ogbera, a professor, 19 million adults are living with diabetes in
She said: "Globally, 463 million people have diabetes and by 2045, it is estimated that 700 million people will have it.
"In 2015, about 5.0 million people died in
"
"About 63,958 persons are estimated to have died from diabetes-related disease in
Ms Ogbera said that drivers of the epidemic in
To reduce the spike, Ms Ogbera said that diabetes screening and diagnosis at primary healthcare must be scaled up.
"Scale up health education using different channels such as radio, television, print and social media.
"Treat patients to target. Conduct national prevalence survey(s) and ensure access to medication at primary care level," Ms Ogbera advised.
She said there was an urgent need for governments to subsidise both screening and diabetes medications to reduce DM related deaths.
Also,
Speaking on "Diabetes Prevention and Control: Why Multidisciplinary Care and Multisectoral Response Are Needed in
"It requires multidisciplinary care because it can't be handled by one person alone, but requires professionals from different ranges of disciplines to work together.
"The benefits of such collaborative effort will lead to good glucose-metabolic control.
"It will help patients get motivated and involved in self care," he said.
He acknowledged nurses as being integral members of the multidisciplinary care team and urged for improved welfare, funding and support for the profession.
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