April 24, (THEWILL) – A medical Expert, Prof. Zubairu Iliyasu, says over 11 million people are living with diabetes in Nigeria, with many more undiagnosed.
Prof.Iiyasu, who works with Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano, attributed the figures to recent statistics.
Prof. Iliyasu disclosed this on Thursday, in a keynote address at the 14th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Association of Clinical Endocrinologists of Nigeria (ACEN), held at the Tahir Guest Palace, Kano.
The conference, themed “Endocrinology and Public Health”, brought together experts from all over Nigeria to discuss the rising prevalence of diabetes and other non-communicable diseases in Nigeria and Africa.
Ilyasu noted that adequate sensitisation and enlightenment needed to be accorded to the general populace on healthy lifestyles that need to be adopted in addressing the menace of diabetes and obesity.
In his remarks, Chairman of the occasion, Emeritus Prof. Musa Borodo, decried the high cost of healthcare delivery in the country, emphasising the need for strategies to reduce the burden of illnesses like obesity and diabetes.
Borodo noted that the conference would fine-tune modalities for enlightening the public on healthy lifestyles and disease prevention.
The President of ACEN, Dr Williams Balogun, in his address, expressed the need for government and other stakeholders to invest more resources in addressing the menace of non-communicable diseases.
Balogun emphasised the association’s commitment to providing strategies for addressing the rising burden of diabetes and obesity.
“This meeting will unveil a variety of ideas and research with a view to ensuring that these menaces of diabetes and obesity are thoroughly addressed”, he said.
Declaring the conference open, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, represented by the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, described the event as timely.
Yusuf said the Kano State Government would partner with Medical Associations such as ACEN, with a view to addressing diabetes, obesity, among other challenging diseases.
He appealed to the participants to come up with resolutions that would address the high increase in diabetes and obesity diseases.
The conference, which aims to unveil various ideas and research findings to address the menace of diabetes and obesity, drew participants from all parts of the federation.
Abdullahi Yusuf is a seasoned journalist, communicator and was previously the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Jos, where he retired on December 15, 2021
