Edo assures health sector initiatives will ease burden
Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, has assured that the various initiatives in the state’s health sector will ease the burden of diabetes disease among sufferers, urging lifestyle changes to keep the disease at bay.
Obaseki gave the assurance in commemoration of the United Nations World Diabetes Day, observed on November 14, each year.
According to Obaseki, the health insurance scheme, which is being finalised, the Edo Health Care Improvement Programme (Edo-HIP) and other initiatives with local and foreign partners in the health sector will contribute significantly to providing the needed medical support for persons suffering from diabetes and other illnesses in the state.
He noted that the theme for the 2018 and 2019 World Diabetes Day, ‘The Family and Diabetes,’ calls attention to the roles of “families across the globe in the management, care, prevention and in educating their members on diabetes. This also shows that when members of families adopt certain lifestyles, it will go a long way in preventing diabetes.”
He said the state government’s approach to improving health care was one that prioritises everyone’s health, and explained that the health sector has been delineated to cater to the needs of all Edo people and residents.
He added that the health insurance scheme would provide the impetus for efficient functioning of the primary health care centres in the state.
“Families are encouraged to join the collective fight against diabetes by supporting each other with information on the importance of regular medical checks, the right diets, exercise and an adjusted lifestyle that would help in managing and preventing the disease.
“One of our strategies is prevention. We are convinced that preventive health care reduces cost, if any, and eliminates pains and suffering associated with treating a disease. The Edo Health Improvement (EDOHIP) programme has been aligned with our preventive health care strategy.”
He assured that his administration will continue to support campaigns and programmes on preventive health care system through ongoing renovation of Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in each ward across the state, and the compulsory health insurance scheme which will soon be rolled out, to enable more people have access to affordable health care services.
The United Nations designated November 14 as World Diabetes Day, in 2007, in recognition of “the urgent need to pursue multilateral efforts to promote and improve human health, and provide access to treatment and health-care education.”
According to the global body, the resolution also encourages member states to develop national policies for the prevention, treatment and care of diabetes in line with the sustainable development of their health-care systems.