DAILY POST
At least six million Nigerians living with diabetes are currently facing an existential threat due to the skyrocketing cost of healthcare in the country.
DAILY POST reports that the economic hardship caused by the removal of fuel subsidies and the foreign exchange crisis is also affecting the health sector, as the cost of healthcare services continues to surge.
On Tuesday, the Diabetes Association of Nigeria (DAN) raised the alarm that about 30,000 to 40,000 Nigerians die annually from the condition, largely due to the inability to afford basic healthcare services needed to manage it.
The National President of the association, Dr Ejiofor Ugwu, in a statement to mark the United Nations’ World Diabetes Day on November 14, said, “about 6-8 million Nigerians have diabetes.”
The DAN president expressed concern that this figure represents only the “tip of the iceberg” as two-thirds of diabetes cases in Nigeria are still undiagnosed due to a lack of routine screening.
According to him, managing diabetes in Nigeria is fraught with challenges, including a high level of poverty, low awareness campaigns, a shortage of manpower—especially diabetes specialists—unhealthy cultural and religious beliefs, and inadequate diabetes care facilities.
Some diabetic patients, who spoke with DAILY POST on Wednesday, said it is nearly impossible to continue managing the condition due to the current economic situation.
‘I’m just waiting for death; I can’t afford insulin or recommended food anymore’ – Diabetic patient
A patient, Mrs. Maria (surname withheld), told our correspondent in Abuja that her condition has worsened since May 2024, as she can no longer afford insulin therapy or maintain a healthy diet as recommended by her doctor.
According to her, the prices of everything—including insulin therapy, fruits, and vegetables needed to manage the condition—have skyrocketed.
She said insulin therapy costs have risen by almost 400 percent in the last few months due to the foreign exchange crisis, noting that “the insulin vial, which we used to buy at the rate of N4,000, is now N18,000.”
READ THE FULL STORY IN DAILY POST
