The Afghan Public Health Ministry said on Sunday that around 2.7 million of Afghanistan's 30-million population have been suffering from diabetes.
"In Afghanistan, diabetes goes largely unnoticed and untreated. It is estimated that in Afghanistan's 8.4 percent of the population, or around 2.7 million Afghans, suffer from diabetes," the ministry said in a statement.
The statement came as the World Health Organization (WHO) is focusing this year's World Health Day, which falls on April 7, on diabetes.
"If diabetes is not controlled well, it can cause complications including heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, blindness, and foot ulcers that can lead to amputations. Many of these complications and premature deaths could be prevented," Deputy Minister of Public Health Ahmad Jan Naeem was quoted in the statement as saying.
"We must step up the fight against diabetes and scale up prevention and treatment. The Ministry of Public Health is working on improving access to essential diagnostic services and diabetes medicines and increasing Afghans' awareness about this disease," he said.
Around 9 percent of adults have diabetes and an estimated 1.5 million deaths are caused by the disease every year globally, according to the statement.
"The WHO projects that diabetes will be the seventh leading cause of death by 2030," it noted.
GMT 14:01 2018 Thursday ,30 August
Expat with rare heart disorder gets life-saving surgeryGMT 00:18 2018 Tuesday ,23 January
Boy with 10-pound tumour on face diesGMT 21:23 2018 Monday ,22 January
All set for first global medical tourism conference in DubaiGMT 22:46 2018 Sunday ,21 January
Second face transplant for FrenchmanGMT 07:51 2018 Saturday ,20 January
Trio aquitted of negligence in Canada railway disasterGMT 10:57 2018 Thursday ,18 January
Breastfeeding for 6 months cuts diabetes risk in half: studyGMT 16:10 2018 Wednesday ,17 January
Child mummy in Italy had hepatitis, not smallpoxGMT 18:36 2018 Tuesday ,16 January
Greece strikes cause transport chaos, healthcare delaysMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor