DOCTORS Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières – MSF) Southern Africa, in collaboration with the Eastern Cape Department of Health (ECDoH) and the Department of Social Development, hosted an event on November 14 to commemorate World Diabetes Day in the Mbashe Sub District, Amathole.
Focusing on educating and encouraging the rural community of Mbashe to know their status and realize that diabetes is a silent killer, the campaign included healthcare talks and screenings for diabetes, hypertension, tuberculosis, and cervical cancer.
According to Siphokazi Mtshizana, a community health educator, diabetes in the Eastern Cape is a significant cause for concern due to the large number of people living with the disease. It is estimated that 20 out of every 1000 people are affected by diabetes in the province, with factors such as poverty, lack of transport to healthcare facilities, and lack of knowledge about diabetes all contributing to the high numbers.
Regarding the community’s reaction to the day, Mtshizana said, “The community was there in large numbers because they really want the opportunity to have the support of the services we (MSF) deliver, like receiving education and checkup tests. We have a healthy lifestyle group that does activities such as yoga to make them realize that living with diabetes requires exercises and eating vegetables.”
Mtshizana mentioned that celebrating a day like World Diabetes Day is important because it helps raise awareness and creates opportunities to collaborate with various organizations to share knowledge on managing diabetes. Most importantly, it’s a day to support the millions living with the disease.
On October 5 last year, MSF, in collaboration with the ECDoH, launched the first non-communicable disease (NCD) project in South Africa in Butterworth, aimed at improving the detection and management of NCDs.
“The project works to improve the access and quality of healthcare for NCD patients. We also work very closely with communities and community-based organizations to deliver health messages on NCDs and promote a healthy lifestyle by organizing healthy lifestyle groups,” Mtshizana added.
Project Medical Responsible for the MSF project in Butterworth, Dr. Jan Krisna Rodriquez, stated, “Diabetes ranked as the second leading cause of death among natural causes in the Eastern Cape in 2020, only next to COVID. Working alongside the provincial health department, MSF has supported the successful registration of two pick-up points for medication in Mnquma and Mbashe districts.”
These two pick-up points have made life easier for those living in hard-to-reach communities, as they no longer need to travel long distances to access healthcare facilities or worry about transport.
To support MSF medical efforts, visit https://www.msf.org.za/donate and help Doctors Without Border (MSF) teams. #PutHumanityFirst.
