Cameroon: Access to Diabetes Care Spotlighted at World Diabetes Day Celebration in Buea

By Boris Esono Nwenfor [caption id="attachment_109826" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Cameroon's National Diabetes and Hypertension Program in 2022 said about nine per cent of adults in urban areas live with diabetes, up from six per cent in 2021[/caption] BUEA, November 14, 2023 – Diabetes is a public health concern in Cameroon and across the globe, affecting people disproportionally and its prevalence is on the rise. Cameroon’s National Diabetes and Hypertension Program in 2022 said about nine per cent of adults in urban areas live with diabetes, up from six per cent in 2021. The program said about 80 per cent of patients are undiagnosed and only a quarter of people with known diabetes have adequate control of their blood sugar.  According to the WHO, people with diabetes require ongoing care and support to manage their condition and avoid complications. Celebrated every year on November 14, World Diabetes Day was initiated in 1991 by the International Diabetes Foundation, IDF, and the World Health Organization, WHO, in response to growing concerns about the escalating health threat that diabetes poses to the global community. It draws attention to issues of paramount importance to the diabetes world and keeps diabetes firmly in the public spotlight. “Diabetes is that disease that is eating up our people in Cameroon, and most of the time individuals are not even aware. This is a big problem because they do not even know if they are sick of diabetes or not,” Prof Simon Legah, president of Landmark Metropolitan University said. The theme for this year is Access to Diabetic Care and seeks to highlight the urgent need to pursue multilateral efforts to promote and improve human health and provide access to treatment and healthcare education. Diabetes is a chronic disease, which occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin, it produces. This leads to an increased concentration of glucose in the body (hyperglycemia). Type 1 diabetes, previously known as insulin-dependent or childhood-onset diabetes, is characterized by a lack of insulin production, while type 2 diabetes, formally known as non-insulin-dependent or adult-onset diabetes, is caused by the body’s ineffective use of insulin. It often results from excess body weight and physical inactivity. [caption id="attachment_109827" align="alignnone" width="840"] The World Diabetes Day is in response to growing concerns about the escalating health threat that diabetes poses to the global community[/caption] “Global diabetes’ objective is all about taking care of people who have diabetes. We support them with medications. We have medications for those who have already been diagnosed with diabetes; we give them metformin,” Andin Matilda Chongwa, president of Global Diabetes Initiative told Pan African Visions. "There are a lot of people in Buea living with diabetes that is still undiagnosed. So, with this kind of opportunity, we want more people to come. It does not cost you anything to know your status other than staying at home and not doing anything. Come and have your status checked." Diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke, and lower limb amputation. A healthy diet, physical activity and avoiding tobacco use can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. In addition, diabetes can be treated and its consequences avoided or delayed with medication, regular screening and treatment for complications.