The Federal Teaching Hospital (FTHL) Lokoja screened over 150 diabetes people free of charge to commemorate 2024 World Diabetes Day (WDD), as the screening would be carried out from time to time.
The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja (FTHLokoja), Dr Olatunde Alabi, stressed in his address the need to educate the people to know their diabetes status to prevent avoidable complications.
Alabi stated this on Thursday during a sensitisation and screening campaign on diabetes organised by FTHLokoja in collaboration with the Diabetes Association of Nigeria to mark the 2024 World Diabetes Day (WDD), with the theme: “Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps.”
He noted that this year’s theme, “Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps,” emphasised the importance of tackling the challenges faced by individuals, communities, and health systems to access diabetes prevention and management.
Alabi stressed the need for government and relevant stakeholders to raise awareness campaigns on early detection, saying ‘prevention is better cure.’
The CMD advised the people to come for diabetes screening at least twice a year and encouraged them to engage in regular exercise and proper diet.
Alabi emphasised that learning about diabetes remains the first step towards feeling better and living a longer and healthier life.
According to him, there is no cure for diabetes, but there are ways for one to stay healthy and reduce the risk of complications.
Also speaking, a consultant endocrinologist at FTHLokoja, Dr Olorunfemi Adebayo, has urged governments to address the rising issue of fake diabetic drugs in the country.
According to him, the rising issue of fake diabetic drugs is a serious concern that governments need to urgently address, as counterfeit products can be detrimental to people’s health, and it’s crucial to take action.
Adebayo noted that diabetic drugs are very costly, especially in the midst of the current inflation and economic hardships, and urged the government to subsidise the drugs to enable indigent citizens access it.
The endocrinologist urged the people to come for regular screening for early detection, noting that many people would have diabetes for years before they showed symptoms.
“By the time they are diagnosed, some people already have eye, kidney, blood vessels, gum or nerve damage caused by diabetes. which can increase the risk of heart and kidney failure, stroke, foot ulcers, and limb amputation, among others.
“The earlier you know you have diabetes, the sooner you can make these important lifestyle changes.
“If you exercise, watch your diet, control your weight and take the prescribed medicine by your doctor, you can make a big difference in reducing or preventing the damage diabetes can do,” he said
Adebayo noted that the FTHLokoja is targeting diabetes screening for 150 to 200 people free of charge to commemorate the 2024 WDD, adding that the screening would be carried out from time to time.
He urged people with diabetes to eat lots of fruits and vegetables, such as spinach, carrots, broccoli, grain foods, green beans, non-fat dairy, and regular exercise, among others
The residents who turned out in large numbers for the screening exercise appreciated the management of FTHLokoja for the gesture.
A 75-year-old diabetic patient, Mal. Usman Adamu commended the hospital for the initiative and appealed to governments to subsidise the drugs for them.
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