Acting President Emmerson Mnangagwa has assured diabetic patients that they are set to benefit from free medication.
By Phyllis Mbanje
Speaking at the launch of the Zimbabwe Diabetes Association (ZDA) website meant to raise awareness about the condition, Mnangagwa said aggressive measures were required to deal with the problem in view of the fact that an estimated 10% of the population was living with the condition.
He said diabetes was a silent killer, yet many people did not have adequate knowledge about prevention and management of the disease.
“As government, we are on a drive to ensure that people living with diabetes can access medication for free, just like other chronic infections such as HIV and Aids,” Mnangagwa said.
Diabetic patients are struggling to access drugs such as metformin, glibenclamide and insulin injections and the treatment is costly, running into hundreds of dollars per month
Blood sugar-testing equipment, used at most public hospitals, is obsolete and while that in private clinics is expensive to access.
Half the number of people affected are not aware they have the disease.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“A study from 2005 indicated that half of the people, who had the condition were not even aware of their condition and yet it is quite preventable and manageable,” ZDA president, John Mangwiro said.
He said the major causes of the disease were largely based on lifestyle choices.
These included diet and lack of exercise (sedentary).
“Diabetes has always been associated with lazy, fat or obese people. Zimbabwe is a starch-based country, with little food variety,” he said.
The ZDA president said the website would come in handy in terms of raising awareness among the population.
He implored the government to consider bringing down the price of diabetic drugs, which are beyond the reach of many people.
“Almost 95% of those infected have type two diabetes, which is more virulent, but easily manageable and preventable if people adjust their lifestyle,” Mangwiro said.
Commenting on the need to revert to indigenous foods, Mnangagwa said even though the food was considered backward, it had huge benefits.
He promised, as the chairperson of the government food security committee, to champion small grains, which he said authorities would make available across the country.
Information and Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services minister Supa Mandiwanzira said the website should take advantage of the massive mobile penetration in the country, which is at 105%.
He said former post offices would be transformed into information centres, with computers and up-to-date facilities.
