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Diabetes is preventable, workshop delegates told
2006-03-10 14:52:17
By Pascal Shija, recently in Nairobi
Diabetes, the disease that kills six people a minute in the world, is preventable provided people know its risk factors, delegates from 40 Anglophone countries in sub-Saharan Africa agreed at a recent workshop here.
The delegates to the two-day workshop, organized by the International Diabetes Federation, Africa Region, resolved to formulate strategies that included the increase of awareness of health diet and exercise starting at the primary school level.
They would also appeal to ministries of education to incorporate the knowledge of non communicable diseases, such as diabetes, in school curricula.
They also resolved to use mass media extensively in educating members of the public in Africa on diabetes.
Realising that there was a brain drain of healthcare personnel as far as diabetes was concerned, the delegates resolved to train more personnel and retain them. They also resolved to equip facilities dealing with diabetes healthcare.
They also said they would lobby to the African governments to enact legislation that would promote exercise in schools and other public places although such legislation was not easy to implement.
The delegates also resolved to help reduce fear in societies that screening for diabetes was not linked to the screening for HIV, still regarded as a social stigma.
They would also help members of African societies reduce their dependence of traditional beliefs that hindered early detection of diabetes.
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