The World Health Organisation Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, on Thursday, said the number of people living with diabetes in the African Region is predicted to rise to 54 million by 2045, the highest projected increase globally if urgent interventions are not taken.
Moeti said this in her message to commemorate the 2024 World Diabetes Day themed, “Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps.”
Diabetes is a chronic lifelong disease that leads to uncontrolled blood sugar levels because the body can no longer produce or use the insulin it produces efficiently.
Moeti said the rising diabetes prevalence in Africa is complicated by multiple drivers including urbanization, unhealthy diets, and physical inactivity.
“In the WHO African Region alone, more than 24 million adults are currently living with diabetes, half of whom remain undiagnosed. Left untreated, diabetes can lead to complications such as heart disease, stroke, nerve damage, kidney failure, lower-limb amputation, and eye disease that can result in blindness.
“Without urgent interventions, predictions are that the number of people living with diabetes in the African Region will rise to 54 million by 2045, the highest projected increase globally. This poses a significant dual health and economic burden, including catastrophic spending by individuals to control their disease.
“Compounding the challenge is that Africa has the lowest investment rate in diabetes care worldwide, at only one per cent of the region’s health expenditure. Health systems are also traditionally designed to deal with acute, infectious diseases, without sufficient attention paid to chronic diseases like diabetes,” she stated.
She emphasised that managing diabetes requires a sustained effort to balance physical health activity, healthy diet, mental well-being, and WHO in the African Region is committed to holistic solutions, including proper nutrition, access to the requisite essential medicines, and mental health support.
Sh said it is important to address risk factors including obesity, poor diet and physical activity, combined with community engagement to ensure good support systems and reduced stigma.
“In an important step forward at the Seventy-fourth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa in August this year, African Member States endorsed WHO’s Framework for the Implementation of the Global Diabetes Compact in Africa. Focused specifically on the challenge of integrating diabetes care into broader health systems in a multi-sectoral approach, it provides a roadmap for countries to strengthen diabetes prevention, diagnosis, and care, especially at the primary health care level.
“On World Diabetes Day today, I urge individuals, communities, governments, health workers, policymakers and civil society organisations to join hands and act now. For individuals, prioritise a healthy lifestyle, and if you’re already living with diabetes, have regular medical check-ups.
“Communities can play their role by creating supportive environments that promote healthy living, reduce stigma, and provide access to affordable diabetes care and education. For governments, we commit our full support to your efforts to implement policies that enhance access to essential medicines, strengthen primary health care systems, and foreground investment in diabetes prevention and care,” she highlighted.
Moeti concluded that strengthening diabetes control in the African region demands addressing key gaps, including myths and misconceptions about diabetes, fragile primary health care systems and insufficient capacity and training of health care workers.
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