12 Nov 2014

Developing countries like Botswana give more attention and resources to curbing communicable diseases at the exclusion of non-communicable diseases.

Chairperson of Diabetes Association of Botswana, Dr Dipesalema Joel said this at the World Diabetes Day commemoration in Molepolole.

Dr Joel said non-communicable diseases were emerging at a faster pace worldwide and soon such diseases would outnumber communicable diseases in developing countries if intervention measures are not put in place. 

He said the International Diabetes Federation has revealed that eighty per cent of people with diabetes live in middle and low income countries and that half of them do not know they have diabetes. 

The reason for this, he said was that diabetes could go for many years not showing symptoms and even not getting diagnosed.

In response to this, Dr Joel said they were working with other health partners and the government to host educational campaigns countrywide and screen people for diabetes and other non-communicable diseases.

Change in lifestyle and urbanisation are said to be the main drivers of the disease as well as change in population structure, he said.  In addition, he said an increase in the consumption of fatty foods which leads to obesity, adds to the risk factors for diabetes. 

Dr Joel said the World Diabetes Day was created by the International Diabetes Federation and World Health Organisation (WHO) in response to growing concerns about the escalating health threats posed by diabetes.

“In the year 2013, diabetes was estimated to have affected 382 million people worldwide. This figure will rise to 592 million people by 2035 if no intervention is done,” said Dr Joel. 

Furthermore, he encouraged people to lead healthy lifestyles by increasing their level of physical activities, adding that healthy living starts with a healthy breakfast. 

In his welcome remarks, Paramount Chief of Bakwena Kgosi Kgari Sechele III thanked Diabetes Association of Botswana for bringing their services to Bakwena, to educate them on diabetes as well as screening them for the disease.

For his part, WHO representative, Mr Moagi Gaborone said diabetes is a dangerous disease on its own and forms an even deadlier combination with high blood pressure (Hypertension). “Uncontrolled diabetes lead to serious damage to many of the body`s organs and the system,” said Mr Gaborone.

He said in 2012, it was mentioned that an estimated 1.5 million deaths were caused by diabetes and that projections indicated that diabetes would be the seventh leading cause of death in 2030.

“In this regard, WHO aims to stimulate support and adopt effective measures for the surveillance and prevention and control of diabetes particularly in low and middle-income countries, Botswana inclusive,” said Mr Gaborone. 

He said WHO provides scientific guidelines for diabetes prevention and builds awareness on the global epidemics of diabetes. Mr Gaborone also commended Diabetes Association of Botswana for their good work and encouraged them to keep it up. ENDS