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The Diabetes Association of Nigeria, DAN, has warned that six million Nigerians with diabetes are facing an existential threat, following the skyrocketing cost of healthcare.
National President, DAN, Dr Ejiofor Ugwu, in a statement to mark the United Nations as World Diabetes Day slated for November 14, added that 30,000 to 40,000 Nigerians die annually from the condition.
According to Dr. Ugwu, ?About 6-8 million Nigerians (5.7 per cent) have diabetes. This figure represents the tip of the iceberg as two-thirds of diabetes cases in Nigeria are still undiagnosed due to a lack of routine screening.
?Diabetes kills an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 Nigerians annually. Managing diabetes in Nigeria is faced with a lot of challenges including a high level of poverty, low diabetes awareness, shortage of manpower, especially diabetes specialists, unhealthy cultural and religious beliefs, and inadequate diabetes care facilities.
?In the past year, the cost of diabetes medications and consumables has gone astronomically high, beyond the reach of most patients. Insulin vial for instance, which used to cost about N4,000 now sells for about N18,000, representing over 400 percent increase.
?This poses a significant barrier to optimal diabetes care in Nigeria as the majority of patients can no longer afford care, resulting in increased diabetes complications and premature deaths.?
On the way out, he said: ?The Federal Government should as a matter of urgency, subsidize diabetes medications and consumables to make them more affordable to the teeming population of people living with diabetes in Nigeria
?DAN recommends complete tax waiver in the importation of diabetes medications and consumables
Sugar sugar-sweetened beverages tax which was stopped in June 2024 needs to be revived and there should be legislation to channel the funds accruing from it to diabetes and related non-communicable disease prevention.
?There is a need for a well-conducted national survey on non-communicable diseases as soon as possible. This will provide accurate data to guide health care policymaking,? he added. (Vanguard)
? Dr. Ugwu, President of the Diabetes Association of Nigeria
