• cost of drugs overwhelming patients.
• irregular drug intake leaves patients more prone to Covid19.
• 3 patients die since the start of 2020.
• Diabetes drugs should be free of cost

BY IMAOBONG DEM

Vulnerable group of persons who are more prone to COVID19 infection have had to face even more dire situations, in the wake of the ongoing Pandemic.

More susceptible to COVID19, persons living with Diabetes Milletus in Akwa Ibom state are having to deal with not just preventing coronavirus by adhering to the standard guidelines, but need to keep up with regular medication intake to maintain their blood glucose level .

Blood Glucose control for an individual living with Diabetes is essential to the management of the disease, and to maintain this, access to medications; in the form of tablets or insulin, is critical, particularly, in a season where patients are more susceptible to COVID19. These were the emphasis of consultant Endocrinologist based in AkwaIbom, DR SAM ONUNG during a chat with Inspiration FM.

Dr Sam ONUNG noted that for persons living with Diabetes to have a good outcome if they get hit by COVID19, a good Blood Glucose level is vital, and this can increase their chances of survival.

Diabetes mellitus, is a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism characterized by impaired ability of the body to produce or respond to insulin, and thereby maintain proper levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood (Encyclopedia Britanican 2020).

COVID-19 is a new and potentially serious coronavirus. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of the disease as a public health emergency of international concern. Over 23 million people around the world have been known to be infected, while over 1million persons have died (IDF 2020).

Concerns for affected persons in AkwaIbom

Mr NNAMSO EMODO, a civil servant who resides in uyo, the city centre of the state is living with Diabetes; he was diagnosed of the disease 10 years ago. “I spend as much as 36,000 naira every month to buy my medications; this is because I can afford it , but most patients I know cannot afford the drugs which are obviously not cheap”.

Mr EMODO  is speaking from a vantage position as the chairman of the Diabetes Association of Nigeria, DAN, AkwaIbom State Chapter. “Life has become harder for members of the DAN, since the outbreak of COVID19, and the situation is dismal because non-adherence to Diabetes medications make patients more prone to Covid19.

He further revealed that so far 3 persons have died since the start of the year due  to their inability to purchase the needed drugs. “Patients are thinking of using the little money they have to feed, he stated”. Mr EMODO is mostly baffled that even palliatives given to citizens to alleviate the impact of the COVID19 lock down in the state did not get to any of the members of DAN.

“Many patients choose to stay away from the hospital because they cannot afford to buy the prescribed drugs. A lot of them have resorted to prayer houses, churches, hoping to get healed since they cannot buy the drugs”.

Mr NNAMSO went ahead to express appreciation to the specialist Doctors who care for them in the state. He said that the Doctors are doing a lot to save lives. According to him, they ensure the patients are well furnished with appropriate information, as well as indepth knowledge about the disease. “These resources they ensure we get at the clinic. The Doctors also go as far as paying for some of the patients’ medications from their pockets”. he added.

“Many patients choose to stay away from the hospital because they cannot afford to buy the prescribed drugs. A lot of them have resorted to prayer houses, churches, hoping to get healed, since they cannot buy the drugs” .

He is however concerned about how far the assistance from the medical doctors will go. “Many more patients will die if these drugs are not made free cost and more accessible to patients. If patients living with HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis could get free medication, then Diabetes should be given even more attention”.

Diabetes killing more persons than other diseases combined.

Consultant Endocrinologist at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, UUTH,  DR SAM ONUNG is one of the specialists who treats persons living with Diabetes in Akwa Ibom state. He also coordinates activities of the Diabetes Association of Nigeria, DAN, in the state.

Dr ONUNG told Inspiration FM that Diabetes treatment  should be given free of cost to patients because the disease is killing more people than other diseases such HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria; combined.

Dr SAM ONUNG highlighted that AkwaIbom has a high Prevalence of diabetes. According to him , going by the current estimated Population of the state, and a pooled prevalence rate of Diabetes in the South South region at 8.5%, the estimated prevalence of Diabetes in Akwa Ibom state is at least three hundred thousand. This is higher than the current HIV prevalence rate of 5.5% for AkwaIbom state.

A 2018 journal published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information showed that the highest prevalence of Diabetes in Nigeria is seen in the south-south region.

‘The Prevalence is disturbing’;  says the Vice President of  the Diabetes Association of Nigeria, DAN, in the South South region of the country; Dr IBITROKOEMI KORUBO, who is an endocrinologist with the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, UPTH.

Dr KORUBO established that Diabetes is the commonest cause of amputation in persons affected with the ailment in the geo-political zone. “Every day in South South Nigeria, 3-4 persons are getting amputated due to complications from diabetes. This is just one of the outcomes of the complications arising from this disease”.

The medical expert is perturbed that the seriousness of diabetes is underplayed. “It is a very serious condition that requires more attention”. he said .

“Every day in South South Nigeria, 3-4 persons are getting amputated due to complications from diabetes. This is just one of the outcomes of the complications arising from this disease”.

Why Government needs to show commitment.

Foreign agencies who offer intervention show interest when the affected state is able to reflect that there is a burden.

Government commitment is very crucial in this regard according to DR KORUBOR; “These partners are not seeing a problem because we are not specifying how bad the situation is, and government must lead by example”.

The call for political will towards the fight against diseases in Nigeria tops the agenda at health discussions.

The relevance of government funding borders on the sustenance of work already started by the interventionist agencies when they subsequently close out at the completion of their tenure, and accomplish their own part of the agreement.

It also draws attention to the need for domestic funding as external funding for health interventions dwindles.

Additionally, the cost of Health care is borne totally by AkwaIbom citizens, as they pay out-of-pocket for services. Presently, citizens anticipate the conclusions on the state health Insurance bill. This bill which had been passed by the State House of Assembly and awaiting assent by the state governor is aimed at reducing the cost of health care on citizens.  

Diabetes Risk in children is on the rise. A survey  by Doctor NDTV finds that just like diabetes affect adults, children are getting affected too. Medical experts therefore maintain that if this disease is now a Pediatric issue, then it needs adequate awareness and intense considerations.

Long term solution noteworthy.

It is profound for assistance to come from international partners whose presence are felt in the management and efforts towards eliminating other diseases in Nigeria.

But, of immense concern for DR SAM ONUNG is the ability to sustain structures that will be put in place by these agencies when they eventually assist and subsequently decide to close out. “We must learn to take ownership of these problems, domestic funding remains relevant in the long run. Government can fund the provision of medication for people living with Diabetes”.

“The National health Insurance has to work too to enable patients access drugs to manage this disease. Even when we claim that we cannot leave it all to the government to handle, let them for starters show interest and commitment towards this cause”.     

Dr ONUNG further specified that it is alarming that with the large number of COVID19 deaths recorded globally, majority of persons that have died had diabetes, increasing the need to stop ignoring the Disease as countries still battle COVID19 spread.

Prevention of the disease remains key Dr ONUNG stated, as well as early detection. This can help people manage the disease for better outcome.

The stance on Prevention and early detection was corroborated by patients living with the disease in AkwaIbom who believe that compulsory medical checks for everyone who visits a clinic will help detect diabetic cases early enough and reduce the incidence of the disease.

Prevention of Diabetes Mellitus Is Key Early detection is fundamental