The World Health Organisation has sounded the alarm on Africa's growing diabetes crisis, revealing that more than 24 million adults across the continent are currently living with the condition.
Alarming Statistics and Projections
According to Dr. Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa, the situation is particularly dire because approximately 12 million people - representing half of all cases - remain undiagnosed. These individuals face escalating risks of severe complications, disability, and premature death without even knowing they have the condition.
The projections are even more concerning. Current estimates indicate the number of diabetes cases in Africa will more than double to 60 million by 2050 if urgent interventions are not implemented. This rapid increase is driven by changing lifestyles, rising overweight and obesity rates, and limited access to preventive healthcare services.
Health System Strain and Economic Impact
Dr. Janabi emphasized that diabetes can damage multiple organs over time, including the heart, kidneys, eyes, and nerves. This not only affects individuals but places tremendous strain on families, communities, and entire health systems.
"Unless reversed, this trajectory will overwhelm health systems, strain economies and erode hard-won development gains," Janabi warned during his World Diabetes Day message delivered in Abuja on Monday. He stressed that health systems must be resilient, adequately resourced, and organized to deliver continuous care from prevention to lifelong support.
Framework for Action and Country Initiatives
In 2024, African Member States took a significant step by endorsing the Framework for the Implementation of the Global Diabetes Compact in Africa. This framework reaffirms their commitment to equitable and comprehensive diabetes care.
Countries like Ghana and Uganda are already taking action by integrating diabetes and cardiovascular services into primary health care. The WHO supports these efforts through its PEN package, now operational in 31 countries, and PEN-Plus, implemented in 20 nations, which expand access to cost-effective, quality chronic disease care at the primary level.
Dr. Janabi highlighted that there's a window of up to 15 years to control diabetes progression if detected early. "We can prevent progression to full-blown diabetes with vascular complications if we detect it at insulin-resistance stage," he explained. Regular exercise, healthy eating, and appropriate medication can significantly slow disease progression.
The theme for this year's World Diabetes Day - 'Diabetes Across Life Stages' - recognizes that prevention and care must extend throughout a person's entire life. The campaign aims to ensure early diagnosis for children, effective management for women of reproductive age, accessible services for working adults, and compassionate care for older people.
Sustained funding, reliable supply chains for medicines like insulin, and stronger data systems are vital to maintaining progress. Governments, health workers, civil society, and communities all share responsibility for changing the course of diabetes in Africa through enhanced governance, increased funding, and policies that support healthy living.
