Ambibol Foundation Marks World Diabetes Day

TAIWO ADELU

 

Ambibol Diabetes Foundation has concluded arrangements to mark 2016 World Diabetes Day celebration with series of programmes to sensitise Nigerians about the disease and its prevention.

According to the Foundation’s Executive Director, Kolade Adelaiye in a statement made available to P.M.EXPRESS, Ambibol Diabetes Foundation is coming out at this year’s World Diabetes Day celebration from 6-14 November, 2016, with a programme tagged ‘Eyes on Diabetes’ towards reducing the health complications and economic impact on the affected diabetic persons.

“During the event, we aim to screen 1,000 people for diabetes and 500 others for retinopathy, which is the most common diabetes complication that can lead to blindness.

“On Day One which is Sunday, 6 November, we will have Medical Visit to Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral in Ikeja. The activities here will be health talks and distribution of leaflets containing healthy living information.

“Day Two on Friday, 11 November will see us going on Medical Visit to Lagos State Secretariat Mosque, Alausa where there will be health talks and distribution of leaflets containing healthy living information.

“On Day Three, which is Saturday, 12 November, we will have Walkathon and Public Lecture. The starting point of the Walkathon exercise will be from Ikeja under bridge down to Allen roundabout to Opebi down to Toyin Street and back to Ambibol Diabetes Foundation office at No. 32A, Ladipo Kasumu Street, off Tinuade Street, First Bank Bus stop, Allen Avenue, where the lecture will take place. Start time is 6am.

“The public lecture’s topic will be ‘Eyes on Diabetes’, we will also distribute information on prevention of Type II diabetes and healthy living and distribution of awards to sponsors.

“On Day Four, which is Monday, 14 November, there will be awareness campaign on a media platform. This will be an appearance in the media to discuss diabetes prevention and management by medical experts from Ambibol Diabetes Foundation, ” Adelaiye said.

Ambibol Diabetes Foundation, is a Lagos-based Non -Governmental Organization (NGO), with focus on the prevention and management of diabetes at risk population and the general community at large.

In Nigeria, statistics show that diabetes affects over five million people, with new cases of 1.56 million detected in 2015 alone. This prompted the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) to identify Nigeria as the country with the highest number of people living with the disease in Africa. This is as a result of the fact that most people with the condition remain undiagnosed until complications set in, thus increasing the growing burden of the epidemic.