In Nigeria: Diabetes Foot, Most Common Cause Of Non-Traumatic Amputation ― FG

THE Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) says diabetes foot disease is a leading cause of hospital admissions as well as the most common cause of non-traumatic amputation in the lower extremities in Nigeria.

According to it, this is worrisome as the economic burden becomes quite significant knowing most of the health expenditure in the country is from out of pocket expenses.

The National Desk Officer, Diabetes, FMoH, Dr Alayo Sopekan made the disclosure at the Annual International Diabetes, Podiatry and Diabetes Foot Care Workshop organised by the Rainbow Specialist Medical Centre in collaboration with World Walk Foundation, Jamaica Chapter on Wednesday.

The five-days workshop which started on Monday has its theme as: “Building the Diabetes Foot First Responders’’.

The lower extremity refers to the part of the body from the hip to the toes; it includes the hip, knee, and ankle joints, and the bones of the thigh, leg, and foot; however, many people refer to the lower extremity like the leg.

Sopekan, represented by Olanike Akinkoye, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Division, Diabetes Desk, FMoH, said: “Diabetes is a common clinical condition in Nigeria, being managed at the primary, secondary and tertiary health centres in both private and public sectors.

According to Sopekan, a large majority of people living with the disease in Nigeria have little or no knowledge of diabetes and its complications and its prevalence are expected to increase.

On the risk for diabetes, particularly Type 2, he said it is heightened by overweight/obesity and the proliferation of industries producing unhealthy diets, including high sugar drinks.

Sopekan assured that the Federal Government was very much committed to providing leadership for the prevention and control of diabetes and other non-communicable diseases through the FMoH.

This, according to him, is by strategically eliminating the risk factors, improving the management of these diseases as well as preventing their complications.

He commended the Rainbow Specialist Medical Centre and the World Walk Foundation, Jamaica Chapter, for the efforts to arrest the dangerous trend of diabetes and its complications in Nigeria.

Dr Afokoghene Isiavwe, the Medical Director of Rainbow Specialist Medical Centre and Coordinator of the Diabetes Podiatry Initiative Nigeria, said the workshop was relevant.

According to her, having a strong diabetes foot care protocol at the primary care level will save more diabetes limbs and lives by ensuring primary healthcare workers are able to recognise the high-risk diabetic foot.

It will also ensure that healthcare workers know how to promptly recognise, diagnose and treat diabetes and diabetes foot, to reduce delays in getting appropriate foot care services, prevent misdiagnosis and mismanagement.

She said the collaboration with the World Walk Foundation, Jamaica Chapter, headed by Owen Seivwright Bernard brings training and certification in basic and advanced diabetes foot care.

According to her, some of the achievements so far recorded include training of over 1,000 local healthcare workers and institutionalising a certification programme on diabetes foot care at the centre.

Also, raising awareness on Podiatry in Nigeria and creating a platform for Nigerian podiatrists in the Diaspora to reach out to Nigeria as well as producing a diabetes foot documentary.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Owen Bernard, the Director of World Walk Foundation, Jamaica Chapter, said diabetes affects the feet through the circulation of blood.

Tribune