World Diabetes Day, Kagisanong Hall, Rocklands, Bloemfontein
15 November 2007
Programme director
Honoured guests
Ladies and gentlemen
I am delighted to be able to address this gathering here this morning and
would like to express my thanks to the organisers for bringing us all together
there this morning to celebrate World Diabetes Day 2007. The theme for today's
event focuses on raising awareness of diabetes in the disadvantaged and the
vulnerable communities.
Ladies and gentlemen, in the beginning of the 20th century, diabetes was
virtually unknown in Africa. In 2006, only one century later, 10 million people
are suffering from diabetes in the African region and this figure is expected
to rise to almost 20 million by 2025. Many people, including children, die from
lack of insulin and are likely that many die of diabetes before even being
diagnosed, let alone treated.
Still more suffer debilitating consequences of diabetes such as blindness
and amputations. Non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and
high cholesterol are becoming leading causes of mortality and disability
especially in developing countries. Diabetes is a growing epidemic that
threatens to overwhelm the health care services and undermine economies world
wide.
National and international health awareness days such as this, serves to
remind us all about the importance of taking responsibility of our own lives.
We as the Department of Health have accepted the challenge to improve the care
of diabetes and other chronic diseases of lifestyle in the province. The
department and its partners for today's event, Abott Laboratories, Batswadi
Pharmaceuticals Novo Nordisk, Sanofi Aventis, Sasko, Nestle, the Society for
Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes of South Africa and the University of
the Free State is an example of the way in which we should approach all health
issues. Creating partnerships among the community serves to strengthen hands
and pool resources in such a manner that it is more easily available and
provide expertise where in some cases it was not available.
Programme director it is highly likely that all of us know a person with
diabetes. Diabetes is a lifestyle illness and one can find three types of
diabetes.
* Type one diabetes usually occurs when the pancreas stops producing
insulin. It usually starts in young people under the age of 30, including very
young children and infants and the onset is sudden and dramatic. People who
have type one diabetes must inject insulin to survive. Insulin dosages are
carefully balanced with food intake and exercise programmes.
* Type two diabetes is caused when the insulin, which the pancreas produces,
is either not enough or does not work properly. Approximately 85 to 90% of all
people with diabetes are type two and many people who have this condition are
undiagnosed. Most type two is over 40. They are usually overweight and do not
exercise.
Type two diabetes may be treated successfully without medication. Often loss
of weight alone will reduce glucose levels. Eating patterns and exercise play
important roles in management. Tablets may be prescribed to help improve
control, however, many type two's will eventually use insulin. Although type
two is, in itself, not life threatening, in many ways it is more dangerous than
type one, as its onset is gradual and hard to detect. High blood glucose levels
over a long period of time can cause serious damage to the delicate parts of
the body and lead to blindness, heart attack or stroke, kidney failure,
impotence and amputation.
* I need to mention gestational diabetes as it is a temporary condition that
occurs during pregnancy. Both mother and child have an increased risk of
developing diabetes in the future.
Programme director with this in mind, it is clear that we all need to do our
best to not only prevent but provide adequate support and prevention programmes
to those suffering from diabetes. It is important that a person is aware of the
signs and symptoms and then should he or she suspect diabetes; go to a primary
healthcare clinic or facility for testing to find out what the status is. Only
then can the patient then enter into the treatment programme available.
Diabetes can successfully be controlled. It is however an illness which
requires the individual to take responsibility for his or her own health.
Ladies and gentlemen, it would seem that after our call for action last
year, members in the community has come forward and I am please to announce
that there is a marked increase in our patient statistics. Services for
diabetic care are available at all primary healthcare clinics and between the
periods January to September 900 more patients reported to be diagnosed with
diabetes mellitus and put on treatment and 13 369 more patients are reporting
at clinics for regular follow-up visits.
I am also excited about the project by Novo Disk, the "Changing Diabetes"
buss which is a project to create awareness on diabetes, providing advice to
patients and doing screening for diabetes. The bus is to tour South Africa
during the course of the project. In July this year, the bus visited
Mangaung-University Community Partnership Programme (MUCPP) in Mangaung,
Gaongalelwe Clinic in Thaba Nchu, QwaQwa and Thabong in Lejweleputswa.
Services provided were blood glucose testing, blood pressure testing, waist
circumference measurements and health information. One thousand seven-hundred
and sixty five clients were screened of which 91 people were not diagnosed
previously. I would like to use this project as an example of what can be done
when the private and public sector takes hands. We do not win a war all at once
but we fight each battle individually. Every effort counts. May I remind us all
that treatment and medication for diabetics are free of charge available at
primary healthcare clinics and today screening services are to be done here
after.
Programme director, once again I would like to thank the sponsors for the
day, Abott Laboratories, Batswadi Pharmaceuticals Novo Nordisk, Sanofi Aventis,
Sasko, Nestle, the Society for Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes of South
Africa and the University of the Free State for their valuable contribution to
a healthy Free State community.
In closing, may I remind all here today that early detection and treatment
is the key to manage diabetes effectively. In our effort to support
partnerships, the department has, through its program with the European Union:
Partnerships for Delivery of Primary Health Services programme, allocated R5
million per year over the next three years to fund non-profit organisations
working in the field of primary healthcare, including HIV and AIDS and
diabetes. We are targeting community based organisations, non-profit
organisations and faith based organisations and will be for three years.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Health, Free State Provincial Government
15 November 2007
