BuaNews (Tshwane)
11 November 2009
Pretoria — Soshanguve, north of Pretoria is expected to be a hive of activity this Friday when the Gauteng Department of Health hosts an event there to raise awareness on diabetes.
This is ahead of World Diabetes Day on 14 November.
During the event to take place at the Soshanguve Sports Ground in Block X, experts on the illness will be talking to the people on how to manage or prevent the illness and encouraging them to get tested and give information.
Other activities will include screening members of the public for blood glucose levels, foot care, eye care, weight, blood pressure and oral health.
Officials from South African Social Security Agency and Department of Home Affairs will be on site to assist the community with applications for birth certificates and social grants.
Provincial Health and Social Development MEC Qedani Mahlangu will also make a surprise visit to health facilities in the area.
The department said that this year's messages for the campaign was eat healthily, exercise, maintain normal weight, have knowledge of diabetic risks and warning signs, do no smoke and the reduce alcohol intake.
In Gauteng, 549 353 patients are seen at public health facilities for follow-up visits and 15 362 patients were put on treatment this year.
Many people are unaware of their condition so in reality, this number is higher, the department said.
To assist patients, the department has made services available at all health facilities including support groups, which have been established in all sub-districts and queues to collect chronic medication have been made shorter by the introduction of Kgatelopele programme which sees these medications delivered at patients' homes.
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