WORLD DIABETES DAY 2019
THEME: Family and Diabetes
Welcome to
World diabetes day activities for the year 2019 with the theme; Family and
Diabetes. World diabetes day comes with different theme every year, November 14th
but this year happens to carry a theme that stands very strong and calls for
deep reflections.
The
realities of living with diabetes
usually comes as a big challenge to most families, in my work over the
years with many families as a diabetes educator, I have come to appreciate how
ignorance and public perception that living with diabetes is a “Death sentence” which is not so, has
affected many families across the African sub-region. The financial burden
diabetes place on families especially low income earners cuts across all
regions of Africa.
Families find
it difficult to provide medicines especially insulin and accessories,
food which is a necessity and access
to good and quality Diabetes Education remain a big challenge throughout
Africa and some Asian countries till date. The International Diabetes Federation over the years has been helping with advocacy, training of diabetes educators like Conversation Map Expert trainers amongst other interventions.
Africa and some Asian countries till date. The International Diabetes Federation over the years has been helping with advocacy, training of diabetes educators like Conversation Map Expert trainers amongst other interventions.
The family
being the nucleus of society bears a huge brunt of Diabetes challenge, therefore
concerted effort must be made to mitigate with appropriate health insurance
covers, Government incentives like free glucose meters and other accessories to
people living with Diabetes will go a long way in making life a bit easy for
families with people living with diabetes.
Diabetes is
a load only one person cannot carry, it require sharing, networking and support.
Isaac Akogu
Diabetes Conversation
Map Expert Trainer,
Partner Diabetics
Concepts, Nigeria.
