African Region Tops World in Undiagnosed Diabetes - WHO Analysis

18 November, 2022

Extract below. Read online: https://allafrica.com/stories/202211140336.html

Only 46% of people living with diabetes in the African region know their status, raising the risk of severe illness and death, potentially worsening the situation in the region which already has the world's highest mortality rates due to the disease, a new analysis by World Health Organization (WHO) shows. [*see note below]

Globally, 55% of people with diabetes know they have diabetes. In the African region, lack of testing facilities and equipment, inadequate number of trained health personnel, poor access to health facilities and lack of awareness about diabetes are some of the barriers to diabetes testing. Currently, 24 million adults are living with diabetes in Africa. The figure is projected to rise by 129% to 55 million by 2045...

"One of the greatest challenges to diabetes care is lack of diagnosis. Without testing, diabetes becomes a silent killer," said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. "While countries face several barriers to tackling diabetes, the rising prevalence of the disease is a wakeup call to reinforce health care, improve diagnosis, access to life-saving diabetes medicines and prioritize diabetes as a major health challenge."...

[*Note from HIFA moderator, NPW: I was unable to locate the report]

Neil Pakenham-Walsh, Global Coordinator HIFA, www.hifa.org neil@hifa.org

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