SPEECH FOR HONOURABLE MINISTER
ON THE OCCASION OF WORLD DIABETES DAY 2015
Mr. Karl Mario Nobin, PMSM, Commissioner of Police
Ms How Fok Cheung, Senior Chief Executive of my
Ministry
Dr. K. Pauvaday, Director-General, Health Services
Dr. S. Gungadin, Chief Police Medical Officer
Senior Officers of the Police Force and of my Ministry
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure to be here with you all on
the occasion of the annual World Diabetes Day. World
Diabetes Day has established itself as an internationally
effective way of sounding the alarm about diabetes and
raising awareness about the catastrophic consequences it
can have on health generally and the quality of life in
particular. This day is very important for those suffering
from diabetes and also for all Mauritians. It is no surprise
that we have set diabetes as a top priority among its
health challenges.
I would like to remind you that the Police Force is one
of the main stakeholders of my Ministry. They regularly
participate in blood collection activities and are always
actively involved in vector control activities during
outbreaks of diseases such as dengue and chikungunya.
On this special occasion, please accept our deep
gratitude for all the blood donated by the Police Force.
We all appreciate the contribution of the police force to
make our living environment better and safer. My Ministry
has readily accepted to carry out this screening exercise
for some 12000 members of staff of the police force as
well as for their family. Members of the police force are
role models for the community and it is important that they
choose a healthy lifestyle that can be adopted by
members of the community.
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As you may be aware World Diabetes Day is held on
November 14 of each year. It was introduced in 1991 by
the International Diabetes Federation and the World
Health Organization in response to the alarming burden of
disease posed by diabetes around the world. The theme
of World Diabetes Day, from 2014 to 2016 is healthy living
and diabetes and this year, the focus is on starting each
day with a healthy breakfast.
Diabetes represents a major public threat worldwide
and also in Mauritius.
It constitutes a major brake on
productivity and economic progress. Today, there are 382
million people living with diabetes in the world.
The
number of people with the disease is set to rise beyond
592 million in less than 25 years. Yet, with 175 million
cases currently undiagnosed, a vast number of people
with diabetes are progressing towards complications
without being aware of their disease. A further 316 million
with impaired glucose tolerance (a pre-diabetes condition)
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are at high risk from the disease – frightening number that
is set to reach 600 million by 2035.
advance
of
diabetes
all
unfortunately unstoppable.
over
the
The inexorable
world
seems
But we have a duty to do
whatever we can and whatever it takes to stop its
advance.
It is distressing that Mauritius has such a high prevalence
of diabetes and the trend is continuing to rise, as
evidenced by successive NCD surveys carried out.
In
Mauritius, diabetes prevalence has increased by 60% from
the period 1987 to 2009 but worldwide, according to the
Centre for Disease Control, Atlanta, USA, increase in the
prevalence of diabetes has been more than 200% in the
same period.
This year, a new NCD survey has been
conducted. Data are being analysed and a report on the
situation regarding NCDs is expected early next year.
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I would like to highlight that diabetes is responsible
for many complications. Allow me to quote some figures
for the year 2014:-
(i)
Three hundred and forty-four (344) lower leg
amputations were carried out. Out of these 344,
three hundred and twenty (320) were diabetes
related.
(ii)
Six thousand three hundred and fourteen (6314)
cataract surgeries were carried out.
Three
thousand and fifty-five (3055) of these were
among diabetic patients.
(iii) As at October 2015, one thousand two hundred
and thirteen patients (1213) are undergoing
dialysis and 50% of these are diabetic patients.
Despite the grim picture painted by these figures, we
have the knowledge and expertise today to create
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conditions which can considerably reduce the onset of
diabetes for the next generation. This can be achieved by
increasing awareness on the importance of a healthy diet
and regular physical activity for everyone, male or female,
young and elderly.
But we must particularly target the
children and the young people about the absolute benefits
of physical exercise and sports for the quality of life.
It is imperative for low and middle-income countries
to prepare themselves by taking adequate and effective
measures to address this looming pandemic.
It is essential that health professionals – particularly
the primary care practitioners – provide advice and
counseling about lifestyle, diets in order to get everyone to
be aware of the disease.
In the last two years, progress has been made
toward driving political change for diabetes.
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Socially and economically disadvantaged people in
every country carry the greatest burden of diabetes and
are often the most affected financially.
There is an
increasing and worrying trend towards younger people
developing diabetes. It is therefore very important to deal
with the social determinants of health, i.e. the conditions in
which people are born, grow, work, live and become old.
Obesity is a problem and must be tackled from a very
early age as well.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I have a triple message:
(i)
To all Mauritians, take responsibility for your
own health. It is in your interest to be and
remain healthy, and enjoy a quality of life by
adopting a lifestyle which prevents diabetes and
other diseases.
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(ii)
For the healthcare professionals, it is your duty
to improve awareness and knowledge about the
impact diabetes can have on people and you
must keep advising and counseling.
(iii) For me in government, it is my earnest hope to
be able to implement effective strategies and
policies for the prevention and management of
diabetes to safeguard the health of our citizens
living with or at risk of diabetes.
Nearly every family in Mauritius is confronted directly
with the suffering associated with diabetes. I am told that
we, Mauritians have a genetic predisposition to develop
this disease and with the improvement of the standard of
living over the last decades, the average Mauritian is living
longer but not healthier. An unhealthy lifestyle has taken
hold with the consequence that there has been an
increase
in
the
prevalence
of
non-communicable
diseases. Tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet
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and the harmful use of alcohol have contributed largely to
this.
Ensuring healthy eating habits in young children is
key to ensuring the health of our future generations as
almost 600 million of us may be living with Type 2
diabetes by 2035.
While Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented, a healthy
lifestyle is an important part of effective management of
this disease.
A healthy lifestyle can prevent up to 58% of Type 2
diabetes;
healthy
eating,
physical
exercise
and
maintaining a stable weight can help reduce risks. For
example, we can also swap a soft drink for a non-sugar
drink. Let us avoid too much sugar, fat and salt. You will
be surprised to learn that for every 100 ml of a soft drink,
there is 10.37 grams of sugar. That is excessive.
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While we recognize that there is no miracle cure for
diabetes, we are urging everyone to avail himself / herself
of the free health screening facilities. It is far better to
know than to keep hoping that nothing is wrong. Diabetes
could affect your eyesight, feet, ears, heart and could
reduce your lifespan by 10 – 15 years.
The saying that ‘where ignorance is bliss, it is folly to be
wise’ does not apply to diabetes.
Thank you.

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