KABUL (SW): The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has estimated that diabetes claimed over 3500 lives in Afghanistan during the past six months alone.
Diabetes is a group of metabolic diseases in which there are high blood sugar levels over a prolonged period.
It is due to either the pancreas not producing enough insulin or the cells of the body not responding properly to the insulin produced. In line with the World Diabetes Day, the MoPH organized an awareness program here on Sunday.
Qamaruddin Siddiqui, Advisor to the MoPH said on the occasion that the Ministry has compiled the figures about deaths but it does not have the figures about number of diabetes patients in the country. He recalled that there were some 950 diabetic patients in the country in 2012.
Dr. Eman Shantiki, Head of the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted the threats posed by this deadly disease. She mentioned that it is feared some 600 million across the globe would become diabetic by the year 2035.
She said this meant annually some 5 million people would lose their lives due to this disease. The WHO representative stressed that precautionary measures on a large scale can prevent this disease from causing human and financial losses.
It was mentioned that three diabetes care centers have been established in Kabul and one in Herat province. The speakers urged upon the need to have balanced diet and exercise on regular basis. It was also mentioned that nationwide diagnostic and care centers would he established soon.
ENDS
