A philanthropic international organization known as the Lions Club has conducted free blood glucose screening of more than 700 people in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, southern Nigeria.
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The free screening, which was held within the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH, also included blood pressure check, eye and hepatitis screening, medical consultations as well as free distribution of some medications.
The president of Lions Club District 404A2, Mrs. Felicita Opata said that the club annually conducts free screening of Nigerians for diabetes and related illness across the state.
Free services
Opata stated that this year, the organization decided to collaborate with the Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Unit of the UCTH to create greater awareness on the signs, symptoms and care available to patients as well as provide free services to 700 people in Calabar.
She said, “every year, we mark the World Diabetes Day by providing free checks and drugs to peoples especially those, who do not have access to affordable care. We embark on awareness campaigns as part of our efforts to sensitize the people.
“This year, we started with a city walk from the Lion’s Park to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital premises where we have a diabetes centre. We are conducting free blood and glucose screening, blood pressure check, eye check, hepatitis B and C screening, medical consultations and giving out some free drugs,” Opata said.
Speaking further she said, “we have made provision to conduct 700 or more free screening for people in Calabar metropolis and environs. It is important to say that we decided to hold this exercise close to our diabetes centre and within the hospital so that adequate referrals can be made based on the results of the screening conducted.”
Government intervention
The Lions Club president urged the Cross River government to compliment the efforts of non-profit organizations by ensuring that those with diabetes have easy access to affordable screening and care.
According to her, the club is vested in “raising awareness on diabetes and educating the public on the signs, symptoms and the preventive care they can get for it. But, there are challenges to creating the awareness needed and this is getting the government to key into the diabetes care programme.”
In other words, “we need the Cross River State Government to provide the enabling environment for people to have easy access to screening and drugs at subsidized rate. There is also need to scale up diabetes awareness in the metropolis and grassroots. So, with government intervention, I believe we will achieve more.
“Secondly, at our own level, we collated data on every screening and care of diabetes we provide. We are gathering our own data. But, like I said earlier, there is actual need for the government to support what we are doing and jointly develop a database that we can use to provide care,” she stressed.
The Secretary General, Diabetes Association of Nigeria, Mr. Bernard Enya, who is also the chairman of the Cross River State chapter, urged the state government to come to the aid of those living with diabetes by making healthcare services affordable.
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