A global healthcare company, Novo Nordisk, has said Nigeria may record up to 134 per cent increase in diabetes cases by 2045. It noted however that collaboration between the private and public sectors would play a crucial role in defeating it.
The World Health Organisation defines diabetes as a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.
The organisation said in a statement that Nigeria had 3.6 million adults (20-79 years) and 4,440 children and adolescents (0-19 years) living with diabetes, “with the projected increase of about 134 per cent by 2045”.
The Diabetes Association of Nigeria had pointed out that many poor diabetes patients could not afford the cost of managing the ailment due to the cost.
The organisation in its statement however noted, “The Federal Ministry of Health and Novo Nordisk earlier signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which will serve as the basis on which the roll-out of iCARE will be anchored. Other stakeholders include the Royal Danish Embassy and Worldwide Commercial Ventures Limited.
“The key objective of the initiative in Nigeria is the provision of access to affordable diabetes care for vulnerable patients, through the affordability programme designed for retired and elderly people over the age of 55 who have limited income and health coverage, and the Changing Diabetes in Children programme for children living with type 1 diabetes. These align with the defeat diabetes strategy, which targets underserved populations in every country.
“The affordability programme aims to reach 12,000 patients with affordable insulin through 100 implementing facilities, while building the capacity of 450 healthcare providers by 2023. The CDiC programme aims to reach 2,400 children and train 380 HCPs, working through 30 facilities by 2025.”
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