20 Nov 2022

The prevalence rate of diabetes in Botswana stands at 5.8 per cent, as per the last STEPS survey on non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

This was revealed by the Minister of Health, Dr Edwin Dikoloti in his keynote address during the National World Diabetes Day commemoration that was held under the theme; Education to Protect Tomorrow, in Mahalapye, on Saturday.

Additionally, as per the International Diabetes Federation, Dr Dikoloti said the average prevalence rate of diabetes for Africa stood at 3.2 per cent.

“Therefore, Botswana with a prevalence rate of 5.8 per cent stands out as one of the African countries that are most affected,” he said.

This, the minister said was due to the changes in lifestyles, which did not promote healthy habits, adding that 30 per cent of Batswana were either obese or overweight.

He encouraged the nation to live healthy lifestyles by increasing the level of physical activities and eating healthy meals, stressing that diabetes, like other NCDs, was becoming a major public health challenge.

To prevent more diabetes cases, Dr Dikoloti said the ministry would continue working closely with the public and other stakeholders.

“As we continue to develop, as a country, and our people start to live longer, this pandemic will only increase unless effective prevention and treatment measures are put in place.”

In response to the pandemic, Dr Dikoloti said Botswana became party to the United Nations Summit on NCDs in September 2011, thereby committing to address the prevention and control of NCDs.

Through collaborations with other stakeholders like the Diabetes Association of Botswana, he said the ministry was currently at the forefront in the fight against diabetes.

Dr Dikoloti said the health ministry had also been engaged in public education campaigns through different national media platforms to educate the public on prevention of diabetes and other NCDs.

The minister said public education, in line with this year’s theme helped to promote health ownership among individuals and communities, improve knowledge on the signs and symptoms leading to reduced myths and misconceptions about diabetes.

Therefore, he commended District Health Management Teams for their continous engagement with communities, government wellness teams, parastals and private entities where educational screening was done.

He also applauded Diabetes Association of Botswana for conducting national youth camps for youth already diagnosed with diabetes, to intensify on curative education coupled with demonstrations and sharing of experiences, which strengthens their knowledge and enables youth’s quality self-care.

World Health Organisation (WHO) country representative, Dr Josephine Namboze said currently, the African continent had roughly about 24 million people living with diabetes and the number was projected to around 55 million by 2045, ‘if we do nothing’.

“Last year, diabetes took the lives of roughly 415 000 people on the continent of Africa. 

And it has grown to become one of the leading causes of death in Africa, as it is the only major NCDs for which the rate of dying early is increasing, rather than decreasing,” said Dr Namboze.

The international community, she said, commemorated World Diabetes Day annually on November 14, ever since the day was site aside by WHO and International Diabetes Federation to increase public awareness about the growing burden of the disease and to formulate strategies to fight it.

In Botswana, the day’s commemoration began in 2004, following the launch of the Diabetes Association of Botswana. ENDS