By Kuda Pembere
LIONS Club International is keen in assisting the Zimbabwe Diabetes Association to build a diabetes clinic at Harare Central Hospital. Lions Club is an international fraternal organisation which voluntarily assist communities.
Lion Jonah Machaya who leads District 412 told HealthTimes on the sidelines of the Novartis donation of computers at HCH last week that they intend to thwart this non-communicable disease called Diabetes.
“We are from Lions Club and Im the district governor Lion Jonah Machaya. I represent four countries, that is Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique and Botswana which is part of district 412.
“So, our initiative going forward for us as Lions is to eradicate or attack diabetes. It might be next to impossible to eradicate but at least if we can attack it and make sure we are out there to make people understand that this disease is there and can be contained by initiating different initiatives,” he said.
To achieve this feat, Lions have partnered with ZDA to help them in the construction of a diabetes clinic.
“So as Lions Club we have pledged to the diabetes association and say we are on hand to come and build the diabetes clinic. Because that’s one facility which we don’t have which will just cater for diabetes patients and bring in the equipment that is needed for us to move forward,” he said.
ZDA president Jonathan Mangwiro said the clinic will help the nation in the fight against diabetes.
“This donation coincides with the donation from Lions International who have donated to build a diabetes clinic here at HCH and the clinical director has happily accepted the donation
Mangwiro said they were asked to submit plans of the proposed clinic.
“Lions International was asking us to submit the plans so that they can build the clinic for the clinic and for the nation,” he said.
HCH clinical director George Vera said the involvement of Lions in the construction of a diabetes clinic showed the magnitude of diabetes in Zimbabwe.
“As you heard from the Lions Club, they have said they want to come and help us to build a diabetes clinic. Diabetes is big in Zimbabwe. Too big, its unfortunate it’s a disease, we want to reduce it and control it,” he said.
Lions Club has been holding free diabetes checkups and treatment all over the country as a way of commemorating November, the Diabetes month.
