Government has hailed the Zimbabwe Diabetes Association for its efforts in raising awareness on diabetes through the launch of a website dedicated to spreading information on the disease.
Speaking at the launch of the organization’s website in Harare on Tuesday, acting President Emmerson Mnangagwa commended ZDA for taking health matters to a higher level. “As government, we would like to commend ZDA for taking this route to reach out to people and educate them on the symptoms and challenges and management of diabetes, as I am informed that the thrust of the website is to raise awareness and educate the nation on the management of people living with diabetes,” he said.
Minister of Information Communication Technology, Supa Mandiwanzira who also made a speech at the event endorsed the idea of sharing information about diabetes through the website saying his ministry’s duty is to ensure that the majority of Zimbabweans are connected to the internet.
“One of the duty of my ministry in government is to ensure that the majority of people in Zimbabwe has access to internet.
“I want to congratulate you, ZDA President and your entire administration for helping us to push the agenda of making 90% of people to use internet by 2020,” said Mandiwanzira.
According to Zimbabwe Diabetes Association President, Dr John Chamunorwa Mangwiro, he said 95% of people who are diabetic are not aware about the condition.
“People seek medical attention when they face healthy complications, this is because signs and symptoms are very mild to an extent that people ignore it,” said Mangwiro.
ZDA urged society to go for regular diabetic checkups whether diagnosed or not and as well as maintaining body mass index (BMI) and diet.
“We also urge the newly diagnosed to do at most six to eight checkups per day this helps them to know the quality and type of food they require to eat.
“We would like to ask government that if possible, people with diabetes be treated freely like AIDS, TB and other communicable diseases,” he said.
Dr Mangwiro said people should stick to traditional foods which do not contain much starch and more healthy than fast foods.
