By Ita Etim
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – A Non-Governmental Organisation, Network of Persons Living With Diabetes in Nigeria has flayed the discrimination against diabetes patients in the country.
National Coordinator of the organisation, Comrade Bernard Enyia made the condemnation during an advocacy visit to the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River State Council, Comrade Archibong Bassey, at the Ernest Etim Bassey Press Centre, Calabar.
Comrade Enyia condemned the administration of President Bola Tinubu for the stoppage of the Sugar Sweetening Tax on assumption of office without giving account to earlier deductions since 2022 during the administration of late President Muhammadu Buhari.
He lamented that the tax was stopped by the Tinubu administration on the excuse that the government wants to stabilise the economy without giving an account for what has been deducted so far and channelling earlier deductions to diabetic interventions.
Accompanied by the organisation’s Vice Chairman, Comrade Linus Bisong and a member, Comrade Cyntia Bisong, Enyia lamented that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) does not accommodate diabetic patients as diabetes is not listed among sicknesses that should be given attention or subsidised.
He continued that budgetary allocation to diabetes is zero in the budget of Cross River State while the state’s Ministry of Health does not have a Desk Officer.
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Comrade Enyia explained that diabetes is classified as a Non-Communicable Disease, therefore, the government is paying little attention to it despite the number of people living with it and dying daily.
The Coordinator recalled that during the COVID-19 pandemic, diabetes killed more people than the coronavirus, but there are no records or statistics in Nigeria to show this.
Diabetes, Comrade Enyia continued, is so complex that once someone is diabetic, the person is prone to other diseases such as hypertension, hence when people die of diabetes, their deaths are attributed to other sicknesses.
Describing diabetes as a silent killer, Comrade Enyia condemned the stigmatisation of diabetes patients and maintained that it was wrong to accuse them of being responsible for their ill health because of their lifestyles.
In her remarks, the Chairman of the NUJ, Cross River State Council, commended the Network for its courage and commitment to advocacy through non-violent and rights-based means. She assured the group that the media would continue to spotlight their challenges and support their call for government action.
“The media remains the voice of the voiceless,” she said, adding, “We will ensure that your message reaches the relevant authorities and the public. No one should have to die because they cannot afford insulin.”
Comrade Archibong attributed the stigmatisation of diabetes patients to ignorance and appealed for family, friends and governmental support to those living with diabetes.
