THE federal government, the Danish Embassy, and Novo Nordisk have launched an initiative in an attempt to lessen the prevalence of diabetes in the nation.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, made this known in a statement yesterday during the ceremony marking this year’s World Diabetes Day in Abuja.
He stated that the initiative, known as iCARE, would support Nigeria’s efforts to control diabetes, provide holistic diabetic care, and facilitate insulin access to the most vulnerable patient groups in Nigeria.
He noted also that through its transforming diabetes in children program, iCARE aims to provide 12,000 patients with inexpensive insulin and would ensure that no child died from type 1 diabetes.
Ehanire who was represented by the Minister of State for Health, Joseph Ekumankama stated that the government was committed to providing leadership for the control and prevention of non-communicable diseases by strategically pursuing the elimination of risk factors, enhancing access to clinical care for the diseases, as well as preventing their complications.
He added that it would also lessen the prevalence of disease in rural areas.
According to Dr. Walter Kazzadi Mulumbo, WHO representative for Nigeria, there is an urgent need to transition access to diabetic care from sick care to health care, encompassing a preventative and treatment approach for every adult living with diabetes mellitus.
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