Tina Amanda
Rivers State government says it is determined to deal with morbidity and mortality related issues, such as diabetes, HIV, vaccine-preventable diseases amongst Children and many others.
Rivers Deputy Governor Dr Ipalibo Harry Ibanigo stated this during a steering committee/stakeholders meeting for control of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, organised by the Medical Women Association of Nigeria MWAN Rivers State, in Portharcourt.
According to her, Governor Nyesom Wike is very concerned about improving the quality of lives of all people living in the state, while urging that the young ones in schools should be educated on the dangers associated with obesity as it causes diabetes.
“Governor Nyesom Wike is very concerned about mortality and morbidity issues in Rivers State. Since we came in, the immunization rate which was 44% in 2016 as recorded by UNICEF went up to 88% in 2018 and it’s still going up. We are determined to kick out polio and deal with all the other vaccine-preventable diseases amongst our Children.
“We know that Gestational Diabetes Mellitus is associated with a high risk in the mother as well as their offspring of type 2 diabetes and other metabolic abnormalities. We are interested in seeing pregnant women have early diagnosis, given appropriate treatment and followed up to postpartum as preventive care”
She thanked the medical women for their efforts so far in ensuring pregnant women in the state get an early diagnosis and are followed up.
Also speaking, the Director, National Coordinator for Non-communicable Diseases, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Nnenna Ezeigwe, who was represented by the Assistant Director, Dr Malau Toma, said each year, fifteen million people die prematurely from Non-communicable diseases, stressing that the ministry has developed national guidelines on the management and prevention of Diabetes Mellitus.
“Systematic review has shown Gestational Diabetes Mellitus preventive measures to be from 1 to 15.2%. According to WHO annual report, 41 million people are killed from Non-communicable diseases. Premature mortality means dying before the age of seventy years, the problem is so devastating in this part of the world because people are dropping dead almost every day due to Non-communicable diseases”
On her part, obstetrician-gynaecologist University of Portharcourt, Professor Rosemary Ogu, said MWAN have screened over 19,000 pregnant women and 1,200 pregnant women tested positive to Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in the state which is a death risk to the unborn babies.
She advised the public to adopt a healthy lifestyle to prevent killer diabetes diseases.
