Get Guardian on GoogleAs part of activities commemorating World Diabetes Day, a non-governmental organisation, Urban Community Transformation and Empowerment Network (UCTEN) in collaboration with Times Pharmaceuticals Limited, has conducted free diabetes screening for over 200 residents of Asero community in Obantoko, Ogun State.
The exercise provided residents with access to various medical checks, including blood sugar, blood pressure, and other vital health tests, and also featured a novelty football match between the UCTEN football team and Asero All-Stars at the Muda Lawal Stadium, Abeokuta, yesterday.
Speaking on the theme: “Early Detection”, the Group Managing Director of Times Pharmaceuticals Limited, Pharmacist Seyi Adebiyi, said that he partnered with UCTEN to organise the screening as part of efforts to promote early detection of diabetes, encourage preventive healthcare and save lives.
Adebiyi, who mentioned symptoms of diabetes to include excessive urination, feeling tired, and sweating a lot, said that the initiative was to raise awareness about diabetes and hypertension through football as a platform to encourage physical activity and educate residents on the importance of preventive healthcare.
He divulged that free blood sugar and blood pressure checks were also provided to promote early detection and encourage residents to adopt healthier lifestyles and build a stronger community, noting that prevention is better than cure.
“Today, we are using football to promote healthy living and raise awareness about diabetes and hypertension. As a pharmacist and community leader, I believe prevention is better than cure. Through free blood sugar and blood pressure checks, we want to encourage early detection and healthier lifestyles. Our goal is simple: healthier people and a stronger community.” Adebiyi said.
Also speaking, the President of UCTEN, Dr. Hafiz Bello said that the organisation partnered with the Group Managing Director of Times Pharmaceuticals Limited to mark World Diabetes Day in order to raise awareness about the dangers of diabetes.
Bello explained that UCTEN was established to use sports and other community-based activities to transform society and promote the well-being of residents, adding that the partnership was part of the organisation’s efforts to support people living with diabetes through public awareness campaigns and other interventions.
“We partner with the Group Managing Director because today is World Diabetes Day, because diabetes is a killer disease in society and people are not paying attention to it. So our partnership is to strengthen awareness among people that early detection of diabetes will save lives.”
“If you are detected to be diabetic, the next thing is to go to the nearest hospital and see a medical practitioner and adhere to whatever instructions you are being given. People should not do self-medication; people should seek medical help,” he noted.
The President of All-Star Football Association Abeokuta, Alhaji Salmon Akinbo, commended the organisers, saying that early detection is the first cure to diabetes.
“Early Detection is good for the people, so that people can know how to manage diabetes if detected and take advice from medical practitioners. I commended the organisers for this good initiative because many of us have not been doing the test; we believe that we are alright,” he added.
