NGO Seeks Financial Support To Increase Awareness On Diabetes, Hypertension

The Diabetes and Hypertension Help Society (DHS), an NGO, has called for increased support to enable it to enlighten the public more on hypertension and diabetes.

Dr Adanma Odefa, the DHS Chief Executive Director, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja, ahead of the World Diabetic Day, celebrated on 14 November.

DHS is a community health care delivery organisation set up five years ago to help manage and prevent diabetes and hypertension, and to promote healthy living in Nigeria.

The society usually organises free tests for diabetes and hypertension. It also creates awareness on the lifestyles and eating habits that cause the ailments.

She said without financial support, the NGO would not be able to provide better health care for Nigerians.

“We are trying to raise the funding to benefit at least 2000 people with year-long blood sugar diabetes and hypertension treatment.  Because so many times when we go to the field out there, and among the over 30,000 people that we’ve helped with this free care one-on-one, we have seen too many people that we know without medication they can’t survive and we don’t have the funds and resources.

“So you can imagine how depressing that is to people like us. So we are trying to make people interested especially those who can afford it, to pay for other people who cannot afford it, to have medicine because when you give health to a person you are basically giving the person life and it’s so important.”

Odefa explained that people who engaged in smoking, excessive consumption of alcohol, excessive intake of artificial carbohydrates and sugars were likely to contract diabetes and hypertension.

She said that people who were overweight could become diabetic and hypertensive.

According to her, more than 30,000 people have so far benefited from efforts of the society.

Odefa, therefore, urged well-meaning Nigerians to support those persons who cannot afford the treatment.

She said it was the responsibility of organisations and volunteers such as DHS to promote healthy living by educating the public on the dangers and preventive measures.

She, therefore, advised the public to be more conscious on their health as diabetes could affect both the young and the old, adding “it is a killer disease that can damage all the organs in the body if not treated.”

The executive director advised Nigerians to check their blood pressure regularly and to ensure that they keep it below 140/90.

“People should not take too much protein and salt. They should always eat a healthy diet with low cholesterol.  Things like coffee and kola nut should be avoided.”

Odefa identified the symptoms of diabetes to include excessive urination, dizziness, blurred vision, unexplained weight loss and weakness, among others.

She disclosed that the society had scheduled a series of events to mark the World Diabetic Day.

Among such events are a fund-raising dinner; a thanksgiving service at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, free screening tests; and a concert at EFAB Mall in Garki, Abuja.