The Dar es Salaam Lions Club sponsored and carried out a one-day diabetes camp at Mseto Primary School in Ilala District, in the city, over the weekend.
Speaking with journalists at the event the club’s President, Mr Mustafa Kudrati, said the clinic was aimed at serving 700 patients.He added that his club is committed in insuring the elimination of diabetes in Tanzania.
The club has also sponsored experts from Tanzania Diabetes Association (TDA) and Volunteers of Medical Schools of Tanzania to conduct medical check up.
Meanwhile, the TDA coordinator, Zakaria Ngome, has sad that the association has conducted diabetes clinic in Temeke and Manzese.
He added that in Temeke 500 people turned up for check up while in Manzese 650 people attended.
He added that more people were found with signs of diabetes and hypertension.
On realizing that diabetes is a serious problem in Tanzania, he said, his association has planned to train and establish diabetes clinics in all regions and districts in the country.
He added that they had already visited Mwanza where 300 doctors and nurses were trained, hoping to go to Arusha next month to offer similar services.
According to the International Diabetes Federation in 2010, the prevalence of diabetes in Africa will reach 90 per cent compared to 51 per cent for the world and 22 per cent for Europe. While people in developed world are becoming more aware of the types of foods that they eat, those in developing countries are increasingly adopting western eating and drinking styles.
He said the burden of diabetes is increasing globally. The causes are not clearly known but are in large part due to rapid increases in overweight, obesity and physical inactivity.
“Although there is good evidence that a large proportion of cases of diabetes and its complications can be prevented by a healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco, this evidence is not widely implemented,” he explained.
Asked what causes diabetes, the expert said insufficient production of insulin to meet the body’s demand or the inability of cells to use insulin properly and efficiently leads to hyperglycemia and diabetes.
From the web we learn that glucose cannot enter the cells alone and needs insulin to aid in its transport into the cells.
Source Tanzania Daily News