Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
An estimated 24.6 million adults aged 20 to 79 years reside with diabetes in the African Region in 2024, a determine projected to achieve 59.5 million by 2050, World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Mohamed Janabi, disclosed this in a message to commemorate World Diabetes Day 2026 themed ‘Early Action on Diabetes’.
Janabi stated diabetes is more and more affecting the lives and livelihoods of thousands and thousands throughout Africa, but many stay unaware they’ve the situation till critical issues develop.
According to the International Diabetes Federation, almost three out of 4 adults dwelling with diabetes in Africa stay undiagnosed, the very best proportion globally, placing many prone to kidney failure, blindness, heart problems and lower-limb amputations.
“Early diagnosis and timely treatment can prevent complications, reduce suffering and save lives,” Janabi stated.
He known as on people, communities, governments, well being staff and companions throughout WHO African Region to strengthen consciousness, promote early analysis and guarantee entry to high quality, inexpensive diabetes care.
He urged the general public to know signs and act early, itemizing elevated thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight reduction, persistent tiredness and blurred imaginative and prescient as warning indicators, and suggested folks to hunt testing and medical recommendation promptly.
“I encourage communities to raise awareness, share accurate information and challenge stigma and discrimination. To people living with diabetes, your experiences matter,” he stated.
He additionally urged healthcare staff to recognise signs early, present well timed testing and ship compassionate, person-centred care, noting each affected person encounter is a chance to advertise prevention and stop issues.
Janabi stated there’s motive for hope, noting WHO and companions are supporting international locations via WHO Package of Essential Noncommunicable Diseases (WHO PEN), technical packages HEARTS and HEARTS-D for heart problems and sort 2 diabetes administration, and regional technique PEN-Plus to handle extreme NCDs at first-level referral services.
He recommended Rwanda for reaching nationwide district-level protection of PEN-Plus, alongside different international locations advancing implementation, however stated important gaps stay in entry to skilled well being staff, diagnostics, important medicines and steady care.
He known as on governments to prioritise diabetes prevention, early analysis and steady care inside main healthcare and common well being protection, requiring sustained funding in public consciousness, inexpensive insulin and important medicines, diagnostics and dependable well being methods.
WHO reaffirmed dedication to supporting Member States to speed up progress in the direction of 2030 targets of Framework for implementation of Global Diabetes Compact in African Region.
