Nigeria to Record 134% Increase in Diabetes Cases by 2045- Report

Nigeria to Record 134% Increase in Diabetes Cases by 2045- Report

A statement released by Novo Nordisk, a global healthcare company, has revealed that, “Nigeria has 3.6 million adults (20-79 years) and 4,440 children and adolescents (0-19 years) living with diabetes, with a projected increase of about 134% by 2045.”

According to the organisation, a collaboration between the private and the public sectors would play a crucial role in the fight to defeat diabetes.

According to the World Health Organisation, diabetes is 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.

Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar.

According to the Diabetes Association of Nigeria, diabetes’ management in Nigeria is very costly, leaving poor patients unable to afford diabetes care.

But the organisation in its statement noted that a memorandum of understanding had earlier been signed with the Federal Ministry of Health to enable the roll-out of affordable care treatment for diabetes in Nigeria.

“The Federal Ministry of Health and Novo Nordisk had 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 World Wide 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 Health Care Providers by 2023. The CDiC programme aims to reach 2,400 children and train 380 HCPs, working through 30 facilities by 2025”.

Agency Report