200 persons receive free diabetes, hypertension screening

chika ebuzor

November 15, 2017 6:16 AM

Dr Olatunde Alabi, who declared the screening open, described diabetes as one major chronic health challenges facing the world.

The Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Lokoja, on Tuesday in Lokoja screened at least 200 people on diabetes, hypertension and other non-communicable diseases to mark the 2017 World Diabetes Day (WDD).

Dr Adewole Adesanya, who led the team of medical officers of the centre told journalists that the screening was to create awareness and for people to know their health status.

Adesanya, a Consultant Physician and Endocrinologist, said that the theme: “Women and Diabetes, Our Right to a Healthy Future” was specifically chosen because of the significance of women in families.

“We are focusing on about 200 women today for the free screening and treatment because one in every 10 women is living with diabetes.

“Many do not have access to education, treatment and care.

“If a woman is pregnant and she is diabetic, it means two lives are at risk; that is the unborn child and the woman.

“Women are very important in any family.If a woman is healthy, the nation will be healthy.

“If a woman loses her life as a result of diabetes during pregnancy; it has a profound effect on the family.

“When I came here some years ago, we recorded about 20 diabetic patients in every week clinic visited, but now, no fewer than 80 diabetic patients do attend our diabetic clinic.

“This shows it is on the rise in Kogi, Nigeria and the world in general.

“Worldwide, close to 200 million women are living with diabetes. Up to 400 million people generally are living with diabetes and by 2040, the number will double,” he said.

Adesanya advised government to make provision for universal screening and create more awareness to save lives in the country.

“One in three persons has Hepatitis B and they don’t know which disease causes liver cancer. Hepatitis B is treatable and curable that is why we are conducting the entire test”.

Earlier, the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dr Olatunde Alabi, who declared the screening open, described diabetes as one major chronic health challenges facing the world.

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He was represented by Dr Taiwo Jones, the Head of Clinical Services, FMC, Lokoja.

“If you come to diabetic clinic every Thursday for instance, you will see an average of 80 patients every week.

That is to tell how massive this condition is in our midst.

“The major problem is those patients that are used to patronising herbal homes rather than the hospital.

“I want to encourage us to take our health challenge very seriously, ‘’Jones said.

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