The Minister of Health and Child Care VP Chiwenga visited Gweru during the World Diabetes day commemorations on the 19th of November 2020 running with the
theme Diabetes and Nurses – make the difference.
Vice president Chiwenga said diabetes is one of the silent killers in Zimbabwe and africa. He added that one in 20 deaths is related to diabetes. “Today we are celebrating World Diabetes Day but we have other non-communicable diseases to take note of.
We, however have disturbing statistics showing that diabetes will be the seventh leading cause of death by the year 2030”. Zimbabwe Diabetes Association President David Lehobo stated that the knowledge of what diabetes is, is crucial and many people acquire the disease unknowingly. “A lot of people that get into the diabetes condition do so unknowingly, for example eating a big portion of sadza/ isitshwala before one goes to sleep, that is simply putting an application for the disease to visit you.
We can safely claim that out of four funerals, two or three were diabetic and two of those might not have known that they were diabetic. This is one of the non-communicable diseases we must be on the look out for”, said Mr Lehobo. City Of Gweru council also partook in honouring the day by initiating and engaging in a three day free diabetes screening from the 12th to the 14th of November 2020 for the Gweru City Council staff, councillors and Gweru residents.
The objectives of diabetes screening, awareness and education were successfully met as stated by Prudence Maruta , a Health Promotion Officer at the city’s department. She further went on to indicate how it is important for people to get tested and know where they can go to get tested.
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