The Accra Golden Lions Club in collaboration with the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) has started an initiative to increase awareness around Diabetes, a disease that affects one in 11 people.
On Thursday,14th of November 2019-World Diabetes Day, members of the club thronged the Agbogbloshie Market with an information van and flyers to educate the market men and women on Diabetes.
The education was done in Ga, Twi, Ewe, and English.
They were educated on lifestyle modification with physical activity and/or a healthy diet that can delay or prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. As well as all the complications of diabetes including but limited to blindness and limb amputation.
The education was followed with a Free Diabetes Health Screening on Saturday, 16th of November 2019, where about 500 of the market populace availed themselves to be screened.
Speaking to the media, the Activity Chairperson, Lion Francisca Naa Dzama Thompson stated that, “1 in 2 (212 million) people with diabetes were undiagnosed. Diabetes is a silent killer and can easily be taken for granted until it is too late to manage the condition leading to complications such as cardiovascular disease, blindness, kidney failure, and lower limb amputation and eventual death.”
The primary goal was to globally educate and screen 1 million people for type 2 diabetes between the November 14th – 16th to better understand, prevent and care for diabetes.
Nehemiah Attigah, the Marketing and Communications chairperson described diabetes “as a group of diseases characterized by high blood glucose or sugar levels that result from defects in the body’s ability to produce and/or use insulin.”
Lions Club International is the largest club non-political service organization that provide a network of volunteers who work together to help the underprivileged in the society.
“Our Clubs are made up of individuals who come together to give of their time, talent and treasure” Mr. Atigah explained
“Our global service is focused on five areas of need (Diabetes, Vision, Hunger, Environment and Childhood Cancer). These Global Causes present significant challenges to humanity, and we believe it’s our turn to meet them. With over 1.4 million members, we now have an opportunity to truly change our world”.
