Over 500 persons including males and females of diverse ages and backgrounds who live in and around Teacher Mante at Ayensuano constituency in the Eastern region have been educated on the health risk of diabetes and subsequently screened.
In pursuance of achieving the goal of preventing and improving the quality of life for those diagnosed with the disease, four (4) Lions Clubs in District 418, Ghana namely; Accra Metro, Accra Phoenix, Nsawam Eastern Hills and Achimota Golf Hills in partnership with Frankel Foundation for Diabetics and under the auspices of the MP for Ayensuano, Hon. Teddy Addi Safori organised a free Diabetes screening and Diabetes awareness activity at Teacher Mante Community within the Ayensuano constituency on Saturday, 27th of November, 2021.
The objective of the exercise was to educate the members of the community of the dangers of diabetes, advocate for prevention of type 2 diabetes through lifestyle changes, and control and successfully manage the disease for those who have it.
The MP for Ayensuano, Hon Teddy Addi Safori also used the opportunity to address his constituents and advised them on healthy lifestyles.
He donated boxes of essential medication to a health facility at Teacher Mante.
Lion Dr. Afia Nyarko Boakye, President of Accra Metro Lions Club who spoke on behalf of the 4 clubs, highlighted the vision and mission of Lions Clubs International. She said November is dedicated as Diabetes month on the Lions events calendar and so in furthering the mission statement of Lions Clubs International it was important for the clubs to work together to undertake this joint activity with the aim of reducing the prevalence of diabetes and also improve the quality of life of those diagnosed.
She was grateful to Frankel foundation of Diabetics for their wonderful support and was full of praise for the MP for Ayensuano for the opportunity to serve in his constituency.
She urged other organisations and foundations who share similar ideas to serve the underprivileged people in undeserving communities to partner the Lions Clubs in Ghana to alleviate the suffering of persons living with diabetes and other chronic diseases.
Hon. Teddy Addi Safori, MP for Ayensuano and a volunteer Doctor from Korle bu Hospital, Dr. Kobby Ayivi Dzakpasu were both inducted as Lions of Accra Metro Lions club.
The successful event which began at 8am ended at 3:30pm
About Lions Club International
Lions Clubs International (LCI) is the world’s largest Service Organisation. Founded in 1917 by Melvin Jones in Chicago, USA, it is currently made up of 1.4 million men and women in over 50,000 clubs which are located in 200+ countries and geographical areas.
In Ghana there 1,150 members and 40 clubs in District 418 of Lions Clubs International.
About Diabetes
Diabetes is one of the five (5) focus areas of Lions Clubs International. The rest are Vision, Hunger, Environment and Childhood cancer.
It is a chronic condition that occurs when the body cannot produce enough insulin or can’t properly use the insulin that is available. This can cause nerve, organ and blood vessels damage that can ultimately lead to blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, strokes or lower limb amputation.
Diabetes is considered a Global epidemic.
▪️422 Million people currently have diabetes.
▪️By 2040 642 million people will have Diabetes.
▪️It is considered the 6th leading cause of death worldwide
▪️It is also the 6th cause of death among women
▪️One person dies of Diabetes every 7 seconds
▪️ 5 million people die from diabetes annually
▪️50% of people with diabetes do not even know they have it
▪️77% of people with Diabetes live in low and middle income countries.
With these staggering statistics, Lions Clubs International’s vision is to prevent diabetes and improve the quality of life for those diagnosed with the disease. Lions and Leos want to serve the world by acting today to meet the challenges of tomorrow.
