Connect with us

    Hi, what are you looking for?

    News

    Skyrocketing Diabetes Care Costs Threaten 6 million Nigerians – Ravenewsonline

    Diabetes Association of Nigeria, DAN, has warned that six million Nigerians with diabetes are facing existential threat, following the skyrocketing cost of healthcare.

    In a statement released to mark the United Nation’s World Diabetes Day slated for November 14, the National President, DAN, Dr. Ejiofor Ugwu, said that 30,000 to 40,000 Nigerians die annually from the condition.

    According to Dr. Ugwu, “About 6-8 million Nigerians (5.7 percent) have diabetes. This figure represents a tip of the iceberg as two-thirds of diabetes cases in Nigeria are still undiagnosed due to lack of routine screening.

    Diabetes kills an estimated 30,000? 40,000 Nigerians annually. Managing diabetes in Nigeria is faced with a lot of challenges including a high level of poverty, low diabetes awareness, shortage of manpower especiallydiabetes specialists, unhealthy cultural and religious beliefs, and inadequate diabetes care facilities.

    In the past one year, the cost of diabetes medications and consumables has gone astronomically high, beyond the reach of most patients. Insulinvial for instance, which used to cost about N4,000 now sells for about N18,000, representing over 400 percent increase.

    This poses significant barrier to optimal diabetes care in Nigeria as majority of patients can no longer afford care, resulting in increased diabetes complications and premature deaths.”

    On the way out, he said; “The Federal Government should as a matter of urgency, subsidize diabetes medications and consumables to make them more affordable to the teeming population of people living with diabetes in Nigeria.

    “DAN recommends complete tax waiver in importation of diabetes medications and consumables Sugar sweetened beverages tax which was stopped in June 2024 need to be revived and there should be legislation to channel the funds accruing from it to diabetes and related non communicable diseases prevention.

    “There is a need for a well conducted national survey on noncommunicable diseases as soon as possible.

    “This will provide accurate data to guide health care policy making,” he said.

    Spread the love
    Click to comment

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    ad

    You May Also Like

    Oil and Gas

    Leading oil and gas experts in Nigeria have called for the full adoption of digital technologies to overcome the complex challenges facing the country’s...

    News

    Russia’s Finance Ministry announced on Wednesday, September 24, that it plans to raise the country’s value-added tax (VAT) to help finance the ongoing war...

    Tech

    Lagos State has reaffirmed its position as Africa’s leading technology and innovation hub following the successful hosting of the GITEX Nigeria Tech Expo, Future...

    Tech

    Kashifu Inuwa, Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has said Nigeria’s collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is...