Published by the government of Zimbabwe
8 January 2007
Harare — DIABETES has been included on the United Nations' list of diseases that require governments to take an active role in raising awareness about the disease and assist those living with the condition.
Other diseases on the same list are HIV and Aids, malaria and tuberculosis.
Deputy Minister of Health and Child Welfare, Dr Edwin Muguti said in an interview that following the placement of diabetes on the list, it was now incumbent upon the Government to take an active role in its prevention and management.
Dr Muguti said diabetes was the first non-communicable disease to get a UN resolution and such a development compelled governments to take active roles in the fight against the listed disease.
"This year we will be very active in holding awareness campaigns about the disease since it is one of the major causes of deaths, amputations, disabilities and blindness," Dr Muguti said.
He said diabetes got a UN resolution following intense lobbying at the World Diabetes Conference in Cape Town, South Africa, last year.
"The resolution calls upon governments to play a key role in the fight against the disease. It was realised that diabetes had become one of the major causes of death worldwide, just like Aids.
"It was also realised that diabetes was now on the increase in the world," said Dr Muguti.
The deputy minister said trends had shown that the disease was also on the increase in the country due to changes in diets where people have left traditional diets for modern ones.
He said his ministry was also concerned that diabetes was also afflicting children at a very high rate.
"This is because of the changes in diets and lack of exercising.
"These days, kids no longer exercise as they spend most of their time indoors watching television and listening to radio.
"This has contributed significantly to the increase in diabetes among children," Dr Muguti added.
Diabetes accounts for 3,8 million deaths per year worldwide.
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