Malawi Government Pledges to Combat Diabetes and Other Non-Communicable Diseases
This year’s commemoration focused on the theme “Diabetes: Know Your Risk, Know Your Response.”
Ntcheu, Malawi-The Malawi government has reaffirmed its commitment to combating Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), including diabetes, according to Bestone Chisamile, Principal Secretary for Administration in the Ministry of Health, writes Abraham Bisayi.
Chisamile made this statement during the World Diabetes Day commemoration at Mpotola Primary School, Senior Chief Makwangwala in Ntcheu district.
The Ministry of Health is scaling up the establishment of NCD clinics in health facilities using a World Health Organization (WHO) recommended approach known as PEN and PEN-PLUS interventions.
This is aimed at improving access to diabetes care and treatment.
“We expect that healthcare workers will use an approach of screening and management of diabetes in an integrated approach to be cost-effective and help in reducing unnecessary hospital visits by our clients,” Chisamile said.
WHO projections indicate that by 2045, 55 million people in the African region will be diabetic, a significant increase from the current 24 million.
Salome Nampewo, WHO Health Systems Coordinator, emphasized the importance of regular screening for complications among people with diabetes to aid early detection.
Clement Mandala, President of the Diabetes Association of Malawi, called for more financial support in addressing the disease, stating that many people in Malawi are dying due to a lack of knowledge about diabetes.
This year’s commemoration focused on the theme “Diabetes: Know Your Risk, Know Your Response.”