World Diabetes Day: FG, other partners launch iCare initiative in Nigeria
Federal Government, through the Ministry of Health has launched the iCare initiative in commemoration of the 2022 World Diabetes Day.
The event celebrated under the theme; ‘Access to Diabetes care; Education to protect tomorrow,’ was marked in partnership with the Denmark Embassy in Nigeria, Novo Nordisk and other partners.
Remarking at the occasion, Tuesday, Minister of State for Health, Joseph Ekumankama hailed the partnership with the Danish Embassy and Novo Nordisk, noting that with the increased prevalence of diabetes, improving capacity, treatment, support and increased awareness is required to stem the tide.
On his part, Jude Abonu of Novo Nordisk while unveiling the iCare initiative said that with the cost of insulin being above the reach of most of the people mostly affected by diabetes, iCare aims to defeat diabetes by improving capacities, affordability, reach and the empowerment of patients.
Remarking, World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative in Nigeria, Dr Walter Kazudi Mulumbo noted there is an urgent need to move access to diabetic care from sick care to health care, encompassing a prevention and treatment approach for the 524 million adults living with diabetes millitus through strategic accelerated collaboration.
Also remarking, Denmark’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Sune Krogstrup, commended the collaboration, adding that the launch of the iCare programme by Novo Nordisk would collectively improve the lives of people, especially low income vulnerable elderly retirees over the age of 55, with limited income and health coverage, living with diabetes to defeat the disease.
The event also featured the presentation of the signed memorandum of understanding between the Federal Ministry of Health, Danish Embassy, Novo Nordisk and other partners to the public.
It also highlighted the need to include diabetes test as part of the compulsory routine tests for Nigerians to reduce the spate of diabetes.
The iCare initiative targets 12,000 patients with affordable insulin and ensuring that no child dies from Type 1 diabetes through its Changing Diabetes in Children Programme.
