LIONS Club Zimbabwe is planning to build a specialised clinic in Harare to curb diabetes.
Michael Gwarisa
This comes as the chronic disease, characterised by elevated levels of blood glucose leading over time to serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves, is claiming more people in Zimbabwe. Over the past two years, the country has recorded over 200 000 diabetes cases attributed to unhealthy snacking and poor lifestyles, which has resulted in the country being named one of heavily burdened countries in the region
Jona Orama Machaya, the Lions Club council chairperson for Multiple District 412, comprising of Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi and Mozambique, said there was need for comprehensive measures to tackle diabetes.
Diabetes is slowly becoming one of the largest killer diseases of our time and we are doing our best to combat the chronic disease. We are in the process of organising a huge awareness campaign next month and also mobilizing resources to build a clinic next year as part of strategies to combat diabetes,” he said.
The most common is type 2 diabetes, usually in adults, which occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn’t make enough insulin.
Meanwhile, visiting Lions Clubs president Jung-Yul Choi says he is impressed with Zimbabwe despite negative news being spread about the southern African country.
“Am deeply honoured to be in Zimbabwe and I have seen very beautiful ladies wearing beautiful clothes, and was impressed with the entrepreneurial spirit I have seen among urban dwellers,” he said.
Choi, who arrived in Zimbabwe on Sunday for a week-long tour, is expected to visit various projects across the country carried out by Lions Club Zimbabwe.
The local unit was involved in the recently concluded fight against rubella measles in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare. Lions Club Zimbabwe also helped bring relief to Cyclone idai ravaged areas and in the past assisted Tokwe Murkosi flood victims.
Lions Clubs International is a service organisation with more than 1,4 million volunteer members around the globe operating in more than 210 countries operating in more than 45000 service clubs. The organisation was formed in 1917 in Chicago USA by Melvin Jones.
Lions Clubs International members are grouped into more than 49 districts where lions engage in different service activities which include diabetes , vision, hunger relief, paediatric cancer , engaging the environment and the youth.
