WHO links 18.3 percent of COVID-19 deaths in Africa to people with diabetes

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says 18.3 percent of COVID-19 deaths in Africa is linked to people with diabetes.

WHO made this known in a statement issued from its regional office for Africa in Brazzaville, Congo, on Thursday.

The global health body said analysis of 14 countries showed that risk of COVID-19 complications and death is high with people with diabetes and those aged 60 years and above.

In the statement, Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, was quoted to have said those with chronic condition suffers “double blow” if infected with COVID-19.

“Far too many people are in the dark as to whether they have diabetes. People with this chronic condition suffer a double blow if they are also infected with COVID-19,” Moeti said.

“We must turn this around by investing in early detection, prevention and treatment of diabetes.”

WHO also expressed its determination to train more nurses and health workers and expand access to diabetes prevention and care services, as the world commemorate the World Diabetes Day on November 14.

“In many African countries, access to basic equipment for diagnosis and monitoring of diabetes is a challenge, especially in public and remote health facilities,” it said.

“There are also limited supplies of insulin and oral hypoglycaemic medicines for diabetes on the continent, while health workers are not sufficiently trained in diabetes diagnosis and care for patients.

“The African region is also witnessing a rise in diabetes risk factors such as obesity. Increasingly sedentary lifestyle and consuming foods rich in sugar, fats and salt is heightening obesity, ranging from 2.5% of adults in Burundi to 26.9 % in Seychelles.

“WHO is working with countries to train more nurses and other health workers and to expand access to diabetes prevention and care services through the WHO Package of Essential Noncommunicable Disease Interventions for Primary Health Care in Low-Resource Settings.

“Twenty-five countries have adopted the package and are working to decentralize and improve early diabetes detection and patient care.”

As the time of filing this report, Africa had recorded 1,959,772 total confirmed cases of COVID-19, 1,640,964 recovered cases and 46,869 deaths, according to data collected from Worldometer, a platform that gathers statistics.