One in every eight Trinis diabetic

HEALTH MINISTER John Rahael has promised to consider proposals from the Diabetes Association of  TT, including a request and an increased subvention, to help the body extend its range of services to the public. He made the promise after hearing from the group’s President, Zobida Ragbirsingh, about the many challenges facing the association. In her welcome address at its 15th Annual Symposium at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, which had as its theme “Diabetes and Obesity”, Ragbirsingh outlined the need for more funding to open up more clinics and facilities for people who suffer with the disease.

Ragbirsingh told Sunday Newsday Minister Rahael later assured the Association that the request was being considered. He also told her that he shared the Association’s vision for a diabetes clinic in every health centre, with more voluntary workers across the country. In her address, Ragbirsingh said approximately one in eight people in TT are diabetic and there are many more who do not know they have the disease. She said the Association recently acquired an HBA1C testing machine for its members and has established its main branch in Chaguanas. Apart from a successful education programme in primary schools, Diabetics Education Awareness in Primary Schools (DEAPS), there will be a diabetic camp for children to be held from August 19 to 24.

Keynote speaker at the symposium, Professor Errol Morrison,  Pro-Vice Chancellor of UWI and former president of the Diabetic Association of Jamaica, revealed that 80 percent of diabetic sufferers in TT cannot afford their medication. “Even the World Health Organisation (WHO) is trying to figure out how they can get more cost effective drugs to patients,” he said. Following a question from a member of the forum about herbal medicine as an alternative, Professor Morrison pointed out that while herbal medicine practitioners claim it has helped diabetic patients, there is no medical evidence to support that claim. He advised against the use of herbs to treat the disease.