Mr Babachir Lawal, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), on Thursday in Abuja urged Nigerians to embrace healthy living to guard against diabetes.
Lawal made the call at a news conference jointly organised by the SGF and the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, to commemorate the 2016 World Health Day.
He said the theme of the Day, “Beat Diabetes Mellitus”, was timely considering the level of prevalence of the ailment in Nigeria in particular, and the world at large .
“I am informed that close to 2.8 per cent of Nigeria’s adult population is living with diabetes.
“This figure, experts confirm, will only increase, except we adopt healthy lifestyles that can limit the devastating effects of the ailment.
“Diabetes is a disease that can be managed medically, if detected early.”
According to LIVESTRONG.COM, an online educational publication, healthy lifestyle leaves people fit, energetic and at reduced risk for disease, based on the choices they make about their daily habits.
Good nutrition, daily exercise and adequate sleep are seen as the foundations for continuing good health.
Managing stress in positive ways, instead of through smoking or drinking alcohol, reduces wear and tear on the body at the hormonal level.
Lawal, who advised Nigerians to go for regular diabetes screening, also urged them to be wary of the food they consume.
In his remark, Dr Rui Vaz, the Country Representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Nigeria, said the aim of the celebration was to create awareness on the increasing prevalence of diabetes.
“At the global level, the number of people living with diabetes has quadrupled from 80 million in 1980 to 422 million adults in 2014 with the most living in developing countries.
“In the African region, it has risen also from four million to 25 million during the same period.
“In 2012 alone, diabetes caused 1.5 million deaths globally.”
Vaz attributed the sharp rise in the prevalence of diabetes to the rapidly uncontrolled urbanisation, globalisation and major changes in lifestyles of people.
He said diabetes was treatable and could be controlled and managed to prevent complications.
He, therefore, called for increased diagnosis of the disease and pledged the commitment of the global organisation to providing technical support for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria. (NAN)