By; NICHOLAS DEKERA, Kaduna
As the world prepares to mark World Diabetes Day for year 2022, National Eye Centre Kaduna at the weekend, delivered free medical services to over 1,700 residents of through its diabetes care unit National Eye Centre Diabetes-Militus Care Initiative.
Speaking at the Kaduna Central Market, venue of the free medical care, Dr. Paulinus Unung, Head Pathological Department said, “after some years of interaction with patients, there should be a platform different from the regular course to take care of diabetes.
“Ahead of 14th November, World Diabetes Day, we started the programme in the central market, the platform is a volunteer group with the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Mahmoud Alhassan as the team leader.
“The projection is 2,000 subjects, yesterday we attended to over 600 subjects and today we got almost twice. I came here with 29 staff and I am happy that so far, we have done more than 60 per cent of our projection. The choice of the market is because people come here in the morning and some times spend the whole day here, so it’s easy to come out for screening,” Dr. Paulinus added.
The team commended the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Mahmoud Alhassan, stressing that, “when the platform was formed, the Chief Medical Director was able to quickly employ a consultant endocrinologist and consultant chemical pathologist to assist in addressing endocrine issues,” he daid.
On reaching out to the rural areas, Paulinus revealed that the platform is training health workers and intends to form a sub platform for the rural areas.
Speaking on diabetes statistics in Nigeria, Dr. Paulinus said that for every 10 persons on the streets, two or three will be diabetic.
Hassan Abdulamid, a 40-year old patient who benefited from the free diabetes medical care, lauded National Eye Centre for giving him free medical services, saying that he believes his eye challenges will be resolved.
Also speaking, Yemi Abdullahi, a beneficiary, said that, ” I have heard of the National Eye Centre, though the distance has always discouraged me from going there, but now that they are here in the central market, I am happy to come for the free medication.”
