A South African company, Novartis has pledged to help Zimbabwe by funding all the requirements needed in the operation of diabetes clinics across the country.
Addressing journalists at the commissioning of the diabetes clinic at Harare Hospital on Tuesday, Novartis South Africa, Country President, Thomas Kowallik said his company is willing to help Zimbabwe improve the operation of diabetes clinics around the country.
“We are very happy to be here and we will assist Zimbabwe to help improve the functioning of diabetes clinics,” said Kowallik.
Speaking on the same occasion, Zimbabwe Diabetes Association (ZDA) President, John Mangwiro thanked Novartis Company and Kowallik for pledging to help Zimbabwe.
Mangwiro said they are lobbying government to provide free access to diabetic medications as the cost of managing the disease continues to escalate.
“We hope that diabetic management medications become more accessible and can be provided for free like other chronic disease management regimes and we are currently lobbying government to make this a reality,” said Mangwiro.
ZDA estimates that 10 out of 100 people in the country have diabetics but may be unaware as many people remain undiagnosed due to lack of knowledge about the disease.
