My Younger Brother Made Me Set Up Diabetes Foundation –Senator Enoh

Senator John Owan Enoh who represented Cross River State Central Senatorial District in the 8th Assembly,  has said he set up the John Owan Enoh Foundation for Diabetes Care in 2016 when he found out that his younger brother who is a Catholic priest suffered from the disease.

He made this known on Monday during a sensitisation walk and free medical outreach organised by the foundation in Calabar. 

The All Progressives Congress former governorship candidate said, “When I turned 50 years in 2016, the only reason I celebrated that birthday was because I had the idea to set up the foundation. My younger brother who is a Catholic priest went to the US, after several years he came back and became diabetic. I know how much toll it has taken on him. So, I got interested in diabetes. I know that it is one of the silent killers. 

“Now we are going through the COVID-19 pandemic, if you look at the literature on the pandemic, you are going to discover that diabetic patients are one of the most vulnerable people in terms of COVID-19 and I think it is increasingly important that we call people’s attention by way of sensitisation. We are also doing free sugar test today so that people can know their status.

“I think that a society that lacks knowledge is an ignorant one and this foundation is my own contribution. We need to create awareness among the people to inform them of this danger of diabetes.”

He added that since setting up the foundation, “This is the first time we are having this walk in Calabar. In the previous years, we have been having this in Ikom. The fact that we are in Calabar this year, shows that we are growing and expanding. By 2030, we think that we would have been able to create more than 90 percent of sensitisation and awareness to this pandemic and by that time we would have been able to attract more needed attention internationally to intervene.  

“In our own little way in the past years, we have intervened by taking care of their medications and by coming to the state level this time, gives us a wider scope to see how we can continue to engage and intervene.”

He also stated that “In the heat of the pandemic, we intervened by providing food supplies to thousands of people suffering from diabetes.”

The state Deputy Governor Prof Ivara Esu, kicked off the sensitisation walk during which he spoke about the danger diabetes poses and the need to avoid its causes. 

According to him, “Diabetes as you all know is one disease that is ravaging the world. Most deaths we hear, apart from Covid are linked to diabetes and hypertension. So you can imagine the thoughtfulness in conceiving this foundation. 

“It is something that requires a lot of support from all of us. And I am so happy many people are here to participate in today’s walk.”

Also his remarks, the state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Alphonsus Eba, said “Life is all about living for others. Owan Enoh has widened the horizon by bringing the sensitisation campaign to the city centre of Calabar for all Cross Riverians to be aware of the reality of diabetes.”