Stakeholders in the health sector have urged the government at various levels to subsidise the cost of diabetes management in the country.
They made the call at the 4th Annual Ogun Youth Diabetes Camp Meeting of the Talabi Diabetes Centre on Wednesday in Abeokuta.
According to them, the management of the disease should be subsidised to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians living with the condition.
Diabetes mellitus, often known simply as diabetes, is a group of common endocrine diseases characterised by sustained high blood sugar levels.
The condition occurs when there is inadequate production of insulin, or insulin resistance, triggering symptoms such as frequent urination, excessive thirst or hunger, and weight changes. Treatment may include lifestyle changes such as diet control, medication or insulin.
The Coordinator, Talabi Diabetes Centre, Isara, Ogun State, Dr Olubiyi Adesina, therefore, lamented the number of people dying from the disease due to lack of knowledge and high cost of drugs.
According to him, diabetes is currently the most expensive chronic disease in the country, saying that it is unfortunate that sufferersof this disease spend huge amounts to buy drugs.
He added that those with Type 1 diabetes spend a lot of money to procure drugs and other expenses to treat the disease.
He said the cost of anti-diabetic drugs and monitoring devices had risen beyond the reach of many Nigerians living with the disease, as most of them can no longer achieve diabetes control as recommended by the International Diabetes Federation.
He stated, “In Ghana, Cameroon and other countries, the governments made insulin available for patients free of charge. It is unfortunate that many people, both children and adults, have died because they cannot afford medications.”
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Kayode Oladehinde, said that the government was aware of the high cost of drugs and other challenges facing people living with the condition.
He assured that the government would continue to look at ways to make drugs affordable to the people, saying that “just like foodstuff and other consumables, the challenges facing Nigerians are receiving optimal attention from the government.”
He said that the Ogun State Government was a major collaborator in the annual Talabi Diabetes Camp Meeting and would continue to encourage individuals and corporate organisations ready to partner the government.
The annual Ogun Youth Diabetes Camp is a collaborative effort among the Talabi Diabetes Centre, the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Remo North Local Government and Non-Communicable Diseases Desk of the Ogun State Ministry of Health.
Others are the Diabetes Association of Nigeria, Ogun State chapter, Society for Paediatric and Adolescent Endocrinologists of Nigeria, Ogun State chapter and other stakeholders.
(NAN)