Sierra Leone Observes World Health Day with the theme: “Stay Healthy, Beat Diabetes”
By Annans Sesay (Intern)
Freetown, April 7,016 (MOHS) – The Director of Planning Policy Information and Health System Strengthening in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Samuel Kargbo has said that daily Exercise Prevent Diabetes and help to promote good health and other non-Communicable diseases. He made this statement during the commemoration of World Health Day on the Theme: “Stay Healthy, Beat Diabetes”, on April 7, 2016 at the Bank of Sierra Leone complex, Kingtom in Freetown
Dr. Samuel Kargbo
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Samuel Kargbo said according to World Health Organization (WHO) 1.5 million deaths were a direct result of diabetes in 2012, with more than 80 percent occurring in low and middle-income countries
Cross section of the audience
He advised that people consider daily exercise as a priority. Dr. Kargbo urged the audience to build on the Ebola prevention methods for beating diabetes in Sierra Leone as an opportunity to not only improve the lives of individuals and communities but also raises awareness towards protecting the future.
“Let us all remain passionate about fighting diabetes” he affirmed.
The World Health Organization Country Representative Dr. Anders Nordstrom said that World Health Day is celebrated every year on April 7, 2016 to mark the founding of the World’s public health governing authority that is the World Health Organization (WHO).
He said that WHO provides an opportunity for the world community to come together for one day in the year to focus on actions that we can take individually and collectively to improve our health. Dr. Nordstrom reminded his audience that the effect of diabetes can be serious and pose a significant threat to the socio economic development of any country.
He explained about the three “Cs” affecting our health system leading to diabetes which includes, too much of drinking coke, smoking cigarette, and the often use of cars. Founder-Friends of Diabetes Sierra Leone Madam Salome Hydes Jones, said the day is commemorated to raise awareness on the need of what we eat, and do to the health, adding that eating lot of carbohydrate food and sugar will lead to Diabetes and admonished people to eat less and moderate their diet
