Diabetes Association of Nigeria President Prof. Ejiofor Ugwu dropped a bombshell Tuesday in Abuja: FG must declare a state of emergency on diabetes – it’s killing 30,000-40,000 Nigerians yearly, ranking top-10 global deaths and set to hit No. 7 by 2030, overwhelming our weak health system with complications, longer stays, and skyrocketing mortality.
Ugwu slammed self-medication, rural specialist shortages (34K+ PHCs dysfunctional sans gear/manpower), and called for instant fixes: Subsidize/zero-tax anti-diabetic drugs (import costs kill affordability), expand NHIS to cover meters/strips/meds fully, convene stakeholders (DAN, Health Ministry, NHIA) for National Policy – plus registry tracking, trained primary care referrals, and obesity busters like reviving N200/litre SSBs tax (ditch the weak N10 one axed in 2024).
Prevention’s key amid junk food, inactivity epidemics – “Monster on our hands, act with urgency before it ravages families, economy, futures!” he warned.
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