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.

    Loading

    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    Your email address will not be published.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

    News

    Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has dismissed recent claims by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu alleging lapses in pilot preparation, substance abuse among flight crews,...

    Tech

    OpenAI Chief Executive Officer, Sam Altman, has announced a major policy shift for the company’s flagship chatbot, ChatGPT, revealing plans to relax content restrictions...

    News

    Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has called for the regulation of social media in Nigeria, warning that its unrestrained use poses a...

    News

    The Senate has confirmed Professor Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following a voice vote by lawmakers...