World diabetes day marked with free screening in Kumasi

The Diabetes Centre of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has organised a free screening exercise in the Kumasi Metropolis as part of its activities to mark the world diabetes day.

Dr Osei Sarfo Kantanka, Physician Specialist at the Centre, told the Ghana News Agency that the goal of the exercise was to encourage members of the public to seek and know their status and attend to early treatment.

He said the disease was the second most common cause of death at the hospital in 2010 and was the third commonest cause of medical emergency admissions with a mortality rate of about 20 per cent.

Dr Kantanka said the hospital receives about 30 new patients every week and there are also about 9,000 patients who routinely visit the Centre for medical treatment.

He said this is why there is the need to increase public education to aid the people to seek early examination and treatment.

Dr Kantanka blamed urbanization and the adoption of western lifestyles as a major contributory factor to the rising rate of the disease.

He said a recent survey by the Centre revealed that close to seven per cent of people resident in Kumasi and its environs are diabetic and added to this, is the increasing level of childhood diabetes.

The free screening exercise was also organised at Manhyia, Tafo, and Suntreso hospitals.

November 14, has been designated by World Health Organization (WHO) as world diabetes day, to create awareness about the dangers of the disease and to educate the public on the need for early treatment.

Source: GNA