The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Saturday, October 31, called for increased awareness, early diagnosis and access to affordable treatment to reduce the growing burden of diabetes across Africa.
Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa, made the call in a statement in his message ahead of this year’s World Diabetes Day on November 14.
Janabi said diabetes was increasingly affecting the lives and livelihoods of millions of people across Africa, with many unaware they had the condition until serious complications developed.
He said early diagnosis and timely treatment were essential to prevent complications, reduce suffering and save lives and urged governments and communities to prioritise diabetes care.
Janabi said that the 2026 World Diabetes Day with the theme, “Early Action on Diabetes,” highlights the importance of recognising symptoms and seeking medical attention promptly.
He said that according to the International Diabetes Federation, an estimated 24.6 million adults aged 20 to 79 were living with diabetes in Africa in 2024.
Janabi said the number was projected to rise to 59.5 million by 2050, underscoring the urgent need for stronger prevention, screening and treatment interventions.
He expressed concern that nearly three out of every four adults living with diabetes in the African Region remained undiagnosed, representing the highest proportion globally.
He warned that undiagnosed diabetes increased the risk of serious complications, including kidney failure, blindness, cardiovascular diseases and lower-limb amputations.
The WHO regional director urged members of the public to recognise common diabetes symptoms, including increased thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, persistent tiredness and blurred vision.
He advised people experiencing such symptoms to seek medical testing and professional advice promptly, while encouraging them to sensitise family members and friends.
Janabi also urged people at increased risk of diabetes to undergo regular screening, noting that the condition could develop without obvious symptoms.
He called on communities to intensify awareness campaigns, share accurate information and challenge stigma and discrimination against people living with diabetes.
He encouraged people with diabetes to share their experiences, support one another and motivate others to seek medical attention early.
The WHO official urged healthcare workers to improve early recognition of symptoms, provide timely testing and deliver compassionate, patient-centred care.
He said that every patient interaction presented an opportunity to promote prevention, improve diabetes management and prevent complications through appropriate medical interventions.
Janabi said that WHO was supporting African countries to strengthen diabetes services through primary healthcare and first-level referral facilities using established technical programmes.
He listed the WHO Package of Essential Non-communicable Diseases (WHO PEN), HEARTS technical package for cardiovascular disease and HEARTS-D package for diagnosing and managing Type 2 diabetes.
“Others include PEN-Plus, a regional strategy designed to address severe non-communicable diseases at first-level referral health facilities,” Janabi said.
