According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), a survey that they’ve done shows that African people with diabetes has a significantly higher chance of dying should they get Covid-19.
This information become known when Dr Benido Impouma from the WHO Africa Region briefed the media ahead of World Diabetes Day – 14 November.
The survey was conducted in 13 countries and found that the death rates from Covid-19 are much higher for those who have diabetes. Dr Impouma explains:
“Preliminary analysis shows that death rates from COVID-19 are significantly higher in patients who also have diabetes. The survey of 13 countries conducted found more than 10% fatality rate in people who have diabetes compared with 2.5% for COVID-19 patients overall.
“This shows that fighting the diabetes epidemic in Africa is in many ways as critical as the battle against the current COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
Dr Impouma also shared that Africa is expected to have the highest increase in cases of diabetes globally. And this could be devasting should the Covid-19 pandemic continue.
Vaccinations are key
The only way to avoid the impending health crisis these two illnesses might cause together is to get vaccinated. And at the moment, Africa’s vaccination rate is one of the slowest.
“When it comes to vaccinations, people with underlying conditions have been prioritised but Africa has faced challenges with this strategy. Data from nearly 40 countries finds that nearly 14% of all COVID-19 vaccination doses…have gone to Africans with underlying conditions.
“While there is some progress…we are nowhere near where we need to be with protecting our most vulnerable populations. There’s an urgent need to step up vaccinations and key services to people at higher risk,” he said.
WHO pleads that African countries test and treat diabetes
Dr Impouma further stated how important it is for African countries to “move quickly” to test and treat diabetes within their populations.
“All Africans at risk to diabetes must have access to testing. In fact, about 70% of people in Africa who have diabetes are not aware that they have the chronic condition.
“Health officials in Africa should take advantage of the increased availability of low-cost rapid diagnostics tests to routinely test patients to ensure early detection and proper care in centres…these centres can also be key venues for [COVID-19] vaccination,” he said.
And even though there is already a great improvement in rates of Covid-19 cases, Southern Africa is currently facing a string of new cases.
“After dropping for 10 weeks in Africa, new cases have jumped by more than 60%. This is mostly due to a spike in Botswana but we are working closely with the ministry of health to explore or to understand why we are seeing this spike in Botswana,” Dr Impouma said.
“With these flare-ups, there is no time to sit back and relax. We must do everything possible to prevent COVID-19 from gaining the upper hand,” he said.
Media Statement: COVID-19 deadlier for Africans living with diabetes
