Website on diabetes launched
A website that enables people to find out about the risk level of getting diabetes has been launched in Accra.
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The website, http://diabetes.merck-africa.com, allows individuals to provide basic information about themselves to determine whether they stand a high risk of getting the disease.
Dubbed the “Diabetes Online Risk Assessment” (DORA), the website was designed by a Germany-based Pharmaceutical company, Merck. Ghana is the second country to launch the website in the world after Kenya.
Speaking at the launch in Accra on Tuesday, the Product Manager of Merck, Mr Patrick Amponsah-Frempah, said the website also enabled people to receive voucher to access free blood test with selected local pharmacists working with Merck.
According to him, the goal of the project was to raise awareness of the disease in Africa. Statistics indicate that more than 12 million people in Africa are diagnosed with diabetes, with the number projected to double in 2025.
In Ghana, about 2.5 million Ghanaians are said to be living with diabetes, with 73 per cent of them unaware or undiagnosed. Majority of these people are between the ages of 15 and 45 years.
Mr Denyoh said diabetes was on the rise in Ghana with majority of Ghanaians undiagnosed.
Diabetes on the rise
The President of Diabetes Association of Ghana, Mrs Elisabeth Esi Denyoh, said half of the people who died from diabetes were under 60 years. Mrs Denyoh mentioned that the lack of exercise, diet mismanagement and unnecessary stress were some major causes of diabetes.
She said although measures had been implemented to help address the situation, little had been achieved. Mrs Denyoh commended Merck for the initiative and pledged to ensure its sustainability.
Merck on the move
The Executive Member of Merck, Mr Kai Beckmann, said it was one of the main objectives of Merck to address some of the health issues in Ghana, especially cardiovascular -related diseases.
He said over the past few years, Merck had devoted its attention to coming up with initiatives that would improve health delivery in Africa.
