Diabetes on the increase - WHO

Accra, Aug. 7, GNA- The World Health Organisation (WHO) has estimated that the current 177 million people with diabetes would double to 300 million by 2025 if the severity of its complications, are not controlled.

The disease, which was the 16th leading cause of global mortality in 1990 accounting for 571 million deaths has shot up to 177 million people.

Dr Melville George, WHO Representative in Ghana said in a speech read for him at the launch of diabetes awareness month with the theme: "Diabetics at the workplace".

The period would be spent in raising public awareness on the causes, symptoms, treatment and complications associated with the diabetic mellitus.

Dr George noted that the disease is a major growing health problem and an important cause of prolonged ill health and early death, which has outstretched the health care resources.

He said recent study conducted in Ghana estimated that about 6.8 percent of the adult population aged 25 years and above, the most productive age group has the disease.

"The disease is a major cause of non-traumatic amputation of limbs at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and this would no doubt affect productivity at the workplace if something was not done about it as soon as possible", he said.

The disease has also been identified as the leading cause of blindness and visual disability and the cost of treatment are very high. Dr George said the disease could be prevented or controlled and called for an intensive public awareness of the risk and symptoms, which he described as important steps towards its prevention and care. Mr Benjamin Yinsob, Administrative Secretary of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) said many workers have little knowledge about the disease.

He said the fight against diabetes is a collective issue adding, "a diabetic should not be denied of a job for which he or she is qualified".

Mr Kwesi Ampadu-Yeboah, a representative of the Ghana Employers Association (GEA) called for employers to be sensitised on the disease to enable them to accommodate and assist diabetic employees. Dr Kwabena Beecham, President of GDA called on the Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health to come out with corporate policy and programmes that would be friendly and congenial to all workers with diabetes.

He appealed to government to facilitate the waiver of taxation on the importation of Insulin and other diabetes-care related products that are not produced in Ghana.

Dr Beecham noted that the Association in collaboration with Pharma Ghana Limited, the local agent, would from this year to December 2004 introduce 4,000 glucose monitoring devices and over 30,000 boxes of strips to all institutions caring for diabetes at no cost.

He called on Ghanaians to check their sugar level, exercise frequently and always talk about diabetes in the home, markets, churches workplaces and other public places.