TANZANIA INA MZIGO MKUBWA WA MAGONJWA WA KISUKARI NA MADHARA YA UNGONJWA WA KISUKARI KWENYE MIGUU.   Waziri wa Afya na Ustawi ...

TANZANIA INA MZIGO MKUBWA WA MAGONJWA WA KISUKARI NA MADHARA YA UNGONJWA WA KISUKARI KWENYE MIGUU.

 

Waziri wa Afya na Ustawi wa Jamii, Dkt Seif Rashid akionesha kipeperushi baada ya kufungua mkutano wa siku mbili wa Pan African Diabetic Foot study Group (PADFSG) uliofanyika jijini Dar es Salaam jana na juzi. Kulia ni Dkt Zulfiqarali G. Abbas, Mtaalam wa magonjwa ya suakri na Mwenyekiti PADFSG na Rais wa Chama cha Ulaya kwa maradhi ya sukari, Profesa Andrew Bonlton.

Waziri wa Afya na Ustawi wa Jamii, Dkt Seif Rashid akiangalia kiatu maalum kituiwacho na wagonjwa wenye vidonda wa sukari wakati alifungua mkutano wa maswala ya sukari jijii Dar es Salaam jana. Kulia anayempa maelezo ni Rais wa PODtrisi Foot Solutions, Dkt Camillo Buratto, Rais wa Rais wa Chama cha Ulaya kwa maradhi ya sukari Profesa Andrew Bonlton (kushoto) na mwenyeji wao, Dkt Zulfiqarali G. Abbas, Mtaalam wa magonjwa ya sukari na Mwenyekiti wa PADFSG.

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Dr. Zulfiqarali G. Abbas, Consultant Physician,

Mwenyekiti Pan African Diabetic Foot Study Group.

Tanzania ina mzigo mkubwa wa magonjwa wa kisukari na madhara ya ungonjwa wa kisukari kwenye miguu

Tanzania ina mzigo mkubwa wa magonjwa yasiyoambukiza, sio tu kisukari bali na matatizo yanayoambatana na ugonjwa huu kama vile vidonda vya kisukari miguuni, ambalo ongezeko lake haliwezi kufumbiwa macho. Haya yalisemwa na mwenyekiti wa Pan African Diabetic Foot Study Group na pia mwenyekiti wa mradi wa miguu wa Step by Step. Dr. Zulfiqarali G. Abbas. Daktari wa Hospitali ya Taifa na Chuo kikuu cha Afya cha Muhimbili. Akizungumza hayo wakati wa Mkutano wa pili wa Pan African Diabetic Foot study Group uliofanyika katika hotel ya Blue Pearl jijini Dar es salaam, kuanzia tarehe 24 Agosti mpaka tarehe 26 Agosti. Ambao ulifunguliwa na Waziri wa Afya mheshimiwa Dr. Seif Rashid.         ( Ripota)

Tulifanya mahojiano na Dokta Abbas juu ya mafanikio ya mkutano huu wa kimataifa kuhusu vidonda vya kisukari miguuni, jijini Dar es salaam.

Daktari Abbas alisema wajumbe kutoka kila sehemu duniani waliwasili. Wapo wajumbe kutoka nchi tisa nje ya bara la Africa, wajumbe ishirini na tisa kutoka nchi za Africa. Na wajumbe kutoka mikoa ishirini na sita ya Tanzania. Mkutano huu wa kimataifa wa cku tatu. Malengo ya awali kutokana na mkutoano huu ni ni kutoa taarifa zilizopo kwa wakati huu kuhusiana na kinga na matibabu juu ya vidonda vya kisukari miguuni katika Africa. Wasemaji tofauti ambao wapo kwenye Nyanja hii ya vidonda vya kisukari miguuni watawasilisha hotuba adilifu. Mbali na hotuba hizo pia kutakuwa na maonyesho ya vitendo jinsi ya kuhudumia vidonda vya kisukari miguuni.

Tumekusanya vipindi vya kuvutia vya kisayansi, maelezo yenye ushahidi ndani yake ambayo yameleta maboresho katika utunzaji wa vidonda vya kisukari miguuni. Matibabu yanayofanyika katika nchi za Africa. Tunazo hotuba arobaini kutoka kwa wataalam wa miguu na vipindi nane vya elimu ya vitendo juu ya vidonda vya kisukari miguuni.

Daktari Abbas alisema kisukari ni ugonjwa sugu ambao unahitaji juhudi za haraka kuukabili. Mwaka 2013, makadirio ya dunia nzima yalifikia idadi ya milioni 382. Idadi hii inatarajiwa kuongezeka na kufikia milioni 592 sawa na ongezeko la asilimia (55%) ifikapo mwaka 2035. Katika bara la Afrika mwaka 2013 idadi ilifikia milioni 19.8 ambapo inatarajiwa kuongezeka mpaka milioni 41.4 mpaka ifikapo mwaka 2035. Na wakati huohuo madhara ya miguu yataongezeka. Kila sekunde 20 kiungo cha binadamu kinapotea kutokana na ugonjwa wa kisukari. Inakadiriwa kuwa asilimia 15% ya wagonjwa wote wa kisukari wataathirika na vidonda vya miguu katika maisha yao. Kiasi cha asilimia 85% ya ukatwaji wa viungo kwa watu wa kisukari inachangiwa na vidonda vya miguuni.

Alianza kwa kusema kuwa elimu ndio kinga kubwa juu ya vidonda kwa watu wenye kisukari. Kuna umuhimu wa haraka sana ili kuongeza elimu kwa wale wote wanaohusika na matibabu ya kisukari. Mahitaji ya haraka juu ya elimu ya vidonda vya kisukari miguuni, mafunzo ya muda mfupi kwa nchi zinazoendelea. Mafunzo kama hayo yameimarishwa na yanafuatiliwa na kufanyiwa tathmini kwa wakati. Daktari Zulfiqarali G. Abbas mtaalamu aliyebobea katika ugonjwa wa kisukari, pia mwenyekiti wa Pan African Diabetic Foot Study Group na mradi wa miguu wa Step by Step, unaoshughulikia vidonda vya kisukari miguuni. Ameratibu vipindi tofauti vya mafunzo pamoja na kuona wagonjwa wengi wa vidonda vya miguu. Daktari Abbas amejiwekea lengo katika maisha: Kuboresha matibabu yanayotolewa wa watu wa kisukari wenye vidonda vya miguu nchini Tanzania.

Swali: Takwimu zinaeleza nini juu ya ugonjwa wa kisukari?

Dr. Z. G. Abbas

Mwaka 2011, makadirio ya ugonjwa wa kisukari duniani ilikuwa milioni 366 (sawa na kiwango zaidi ya asilimia 8.3 ya watu wazima duniani kote.)

Imetabiriwa kwamba idadi ya watu wanaoishi na ugonjwa wa kisukari itaongezeka na kufikia watu milioni 552 ifikapo mwaka 2030.

Kila dakika nane (8) mtu mmoja anakufa kutokana na ugonjwa wa kisukari duniani. Kisukari ni moja ya sababu kumi zinazoleta ulemavu, ambapo huleta madhara zaidi ya upofu pamoja na upotevu wa viungo vya mwili.

Hali katika bara la Afrika ni kwamba katika mwaka 2010 – watu milioni 12.1 wanaugua ugonjwa wa kisukari, na idadi hii itazidi mara mbili itakapofikia mwaka 2030. Hili ni ongezeko la asilimia 98.1%.

Swali: Vipi kuhusu takwimu juu ya matatizo ya miguu kutokana na ugonjwa wa kisukari duniani?

Dr. Z. G. Abbas

Na katika kila sekunde thelathini (30) mgonjwa mmoja wa kisukari hukatwa mguu, hivyo katika kila dakika moja (1) watu wawili hukatwa miguu kutokana na athari za kisukari. Na hivyo kufanya kila masaa mawili, watu mia mbili arobaini (240) hukatwa mguu.

Duniani kote, asilimia 40-60% ya ukatwaji wa viungo haswa miguu bila kupata ajali, hufanyika kwa watu wenye kisukari. Katika madhara yote yanayohusiana na ugonjwa wa kisukari, matatizo ya miguu ni yenye hatari na gharama zaidi. Taarifa juu ya janga hili zimeonyesha kuwa katika kipindi cha miaka sita iliyopita ukatwaji wa viungo milioni moja umekuwa ukiwakumba watu wenye kisukari kila mwaka. Makadirio haya yalipendekeza kuwa mguu mmoja unakatwa katika kila sekunde thelathini sehemu fulani duniani. Wakati makadirio ya vifo yanayohesabika kwa kutumia viwango vya taarifa zilizotolewa mwaka 2011, imeonekana kwamba kila sekunde ishirini duniani kiungo kimoja kinakatwa kutokana na ugonjwa wa kisukari.

Swali: Nini lengo la mradi huu wa miguu wa step by step – kuboresha utunzaji wa miguu katika nchi zinazoendelea?

Dr. Z. G. Abbas

Elimu ni mojawapo ya nguzo muhimu katika kukinga vidonda vya kisukari miguuni. Yapo mahitaji ya haraka kuongeza ufahamu kwa watoaji huduma katika ugonjwa wa kisukari. Uhitaji wa elimu endelevu juu ya vidonda vya kisukari miguuni na tiba programu ya mafunzo mafupi chini kwa nchi zilizoendelea. Mafunzo haya yamewekwa na yamekuwa na mafanikio makubwa na yamekuwa yakisimamiwa na kutathminiwa na maendeleo ya vyanzo vya ufundishaji.

Malengo na Makusudio ya Mradi Huu:

Kujenga ufahamu zaidi juu ya vidonda vya kisukari miguuni katika nchi zinazoendelea. Kuzalisha mafunzo imara kwa wataalamu wa afya katika kusimamia vidonda vya kisukari miguuni. Kusaidia katika upatikanaji wa taarifa kutoka wa wataalam wa afya waliopitia mafunzo kwa wataalam wengine wa afya na hivyo kupelekea umahiri zaidi. Kupunguza hatari zinazopelekea matatizo ya viungo kwa wagonjwa wa kisukari. Kuwawezesha watu wenye kisukari kutunza miguu yao, kugundua matatizo mapema na kutafuta msaada mapema mara wapatapo matatizo.

Mradi huu ni kwa nchi zilizoendelea katika kupunguza ukatwaji wa viungo kwa asilimia 50%. Mradi huu unaitwa Step by step project. Mradi huu umedhaminiwa na Chama Cha Kisukari Duniani (WDF). Viongozi wa kitaalamu ni kutoka Chuo Kikuu Cha Sayansi ya Afya Muhimbili (MUCHS), Kongamano la Kimataifa la Kisukari (IDF), Diabetic foot society of India, na International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF).  Kwa sasa tayari tumeshatoa mafunzo kwa madaktari kutoka vituo 45 na kwa madaktari wa upasuaji kutoka vituo 20 kupitia mradi huu kote nchini.

Mradi umeratibiwa kwa miaka miwili. Sehemu ya kwanza ilikuwa mafunzo ya msingi katika utunzaji wa miguu na kisha mafunzo ya juu zaidi. Madaktari na wauguzi ni kutoka katika hospitali za wilaya na hospitali za binafsi kwa vituo 45 nchini kote, ambavyo vinajishuhulisha na huduma za ugonjwa wa kisukari.

Mradi wa step by step mara ya kwanza ulianzishwa nchini Tanzania na India kama mradi kiongozi mwaka 2004. Tulibahatika kupata mradi huu nchini kwetu. Kutokana na mafanikio yake, leo mradi kama huu umeanzishwa katika nchi nyengine zinazoendelea. Mradi huu umefanikiwa katika malengo yake upande wa elimu na tumepeleka na kuratibu mafunzo katika nchi kama Pakistan, Egypt, Visiwa vine vya Carribean, Congo, Guinea. Na pia mafunzo haya yanategemewa kufanyika katika nchi nyengine zinazoendelea. Dhumuni kubwa ni kupunguza kiwango cha ukatwaji wa viungo kwa asilimia hamsini 50%. Timu za madaktari na wauguzi wanapata elimu hivyo watakaporudi katika vituo vyao vya afya watoe elimu waliyopata kwa watoa huduma za afya wenzao, ili nao waweze kutoa kwa wagonjwa wao. Elimu hii endelevu ni moja ya muonekano muhimu wa mradi huu yaani elimisha waelimishaji.     

Awali ya yote lengo kubwa la mradi huu ni kujenga ufahamu kati ya watu wenye kisukari, jamaa pamoja na ndugu zao. Pili, kuhakikisha wataalam wa afya wana ufahamu juu ya tatizo hili la ugonjwa wa kisukari kwenye miguu. Mwisho, kiwango cha ukatwaji wa viungo kimepungua kote nchini tangu kuanzishwa kwa mradi huu muhimu wa Step by Step.

Swali: Je, Kuna utafiti wowote uliofanyika nchini Tanzania juu vidonda vya kisukari na ukatwaji wa miguu.

Dr. Z. G. Abbas   

Ndio, utafiti uliofanyika katika hospitali ya Taifa ya Muhimbili unaonyesha kuwa:

Asilimia kumi na tano (15%) ya wagonjwa wa kisukari wanaolazwa hospitalini hapo ni kutokana na matatizo ya miguu. Asilimia themanini (80%) ya wagonjwa hawa wenye vidonda miguuni ndio wanaonwa kwa mara ya kwanza wakiwa na tatizo la vidonda miguuni. Asilimia thelathini na tatu (33%) wanaolazwa kutokana na kisukari, huishia kukatwa viungo ili kuyanusuru maisha yao. Sababu ya kiwango kikubwa cha ukatwaji wa viungo ni kwamba wagonjwa hawa hufika hospitalini wakiwa katika hatua mbaya zaidi. Iwapo wagonjwa wa kisukari wataweza kufika hospitalini haraka kwa ajili ya matibabu, wanaweza kunusurika kupoteza viungo au maisha. Mara nyingi ukatwaji wa miguu hutokana mchanganyiko wa maambukizi ya hali juu, uharibifu wa mishipa ya fahamu, pamoja na upungufu wa damu miguuni. Watu wenye kisukari hulazwa hospitalini muda mrefu kutokana vidonda vya miguu, kulinganisha na matatizo mengine yanayotokana na ugonjwa wa kisukari.  Kiwango kikubwa cha matatizo ya miguu kina nafasi kubwa katika jamii ya watu wenye kisukari na pia katika hesabu za afya. Ni muhimu kujua matatizo ya miguu yanatokeaje, na jinsi gani ya kuepukana na pia kuyagundua mapema ili matibabu yawe yenye kufanikiwa.

Swali: Kisukari kinawezaji kuathiri miguu yako?

Dr. Z. G. Abbas

Watu wenye kisukari wanaishi katika hatari kubwa ya kupata matatizo ya miguu kutokana na kiwango kikubwa cha sukari kuharibu mishipa ya damu na mishipa ya fahamu, hali inayopelekea ukosefu wa hisia miguuni. Kutokana na hali hiyo, maumivu na mikandamizo hutokea bila kujua, hali hii huruhusu matatizo kutokea bila ya mtu kujijua.

Uharibifu wa Mishipa ya Fahamu (Neuropathy)

Kisukari kama kilivyo  ikiwa hakijatawaliwa vizuri, kinaweza kuharibu mishipa ya fahamu nyayoni na miguuni. Uharibifu wa mishipa ya fahamu ni tatizo sugu kwenye kisukari. Uharibifu huu wa  mishipa ya fahamu huitwa neuropathy. Uharibifu wa mishipa ya fahamu unapotokea, hupelekea miguu kukosa raha, kutohisi maumivu au kukosa hisia hali inayosababisha miguu kuwa na ganzi. Dalili zake ni pamoja na kuhisi nyayo kuwaka moto, kuchomwachomwa, ganzi, na misuli kukaza miguuni. Bahati mbaya, ikiwa huwezi kuhisi maumivu unaweza kuwa katika hatari ya kupata majeraha bila ya wewe kujua. Na hii ndio sababu kubwa ya vidonda vya miguu katika jamii yetu. Kidonda kitatengeneza njia ya maambukizi, ambayo itapelekea kidonda kutokupona, na kuoza hali itakayopelekea mguu kukatwa.

Vidonda vya moto kutokana na uharibifu wa mishipa ya fahamu uliosababishwa na Ugonjwa wa Kisukari. (Diabetic Neuropathy)

Udhaifu katika mzunguko wa damu.

Mishipa ya damu miguuni ina tabia ya kuwa myembamba hivyo damu kushindwa kufika miguuni kwa urahisi. Hii huitwa ”ischemia”. Iwapo mzunguko ni dhaifu, ngozi yenye jeraha inaweza isipone kwa urahisi. Kupungua kwa mtiririko wa damu hupelekea upungufu wa hewa ya oxygen na virutubisho miguuni, ambayo kuchelewa kupona au kutokupona kabisa.  Kuziba kabisa kwa mishipa ya damu husababisha ngozi kufa. Hali hii huitwa ”gangreen”. Uvutaji wa sigara husababisha mtiririko kuwa mbaya zaidi haswa ukiwa na kisukari. Hivyo inasisitizwa kuacha kuvuta sigara ikiwa ni mvutaji.

Maambukizo.

Kisukari kinaweza kupunguza uwezo wa mwili kupambana na maambukizi. Hii inamaanisha kuwa sio tu miguu inakuwa katika hatari ya maambukizi, bali pia inakuwa sio kazi rahisi kuua maambukizi mara tu yanapoingia. Maambukizi yanaweza kusambaa na pia yasigundulike kwa urahisi mpaka kufikia hatua mbaya. Hivyo ni muhimu kutibia maambukizi kwa antibiotic haraka iwezekanvyo.

Mambukizo makubwa yaliyopelekea kukatwa kwa miguu

Swali: Ni zipi dalili za hatari, ambazo ungewaeleza wagonjwa wako?

Dr. Z. G. Abbas

Ni muhimu kwa wagonjwa wenye kisukari kumuona daktari mara wagunduapo hali yoyote kati ya hizi zifuatazo. Iwapo mgonjwa atachelewa kutoa taarifa anaweza kuishia na matokeo mabaya. Zifuatazo ni dalili muhimu za hatari:

• Uvimbe katika miguu au unyayo.
• Mabadiliko ya umbo au kipimo cha mguu au unyayo
• Miguu au nyayo zinapata baridi sana.
• Mabadiliko ya rangi nyekundu, blu au nyeusi.
• Vidonda hata viwe vidogo kiasi gani.
• Majeraha yasiyopona.
• Kucha zinazoota kwenda ndani ya nyama ya kucha.
• Kuwa na Sugu.
• Ukosefu wa vinyweleo miguuni.

Swali: Ni muongozo gani wa msingi katika utunzaji wa miguu ungependa kuwaeleza wagonjwa wenye kisukari?

Dr. Z. G. Abbas

Uchunguzi wa miguu kila siku:

Hakikisha unachunguza miguu yako mara moja kwa kuangalia iwapo kuna mabadiliko ya rangi, vidonda, mipasuko, michubuko, au jeraha. Tumia kioo kuona sehemu ya unyayo.

Usafi:

Safisha miguu yako kila siku. Usiroweke miguu kwenye maji. Kausha miguu yako vizuri haswa katikati ya  vidole kila umalizapo kuoga.

Utunzaji wa kucha:

Iwapo unakata kucha zako jaribu:

Kuzipunguza kwa uangalifu, fuata umbile la kucha. Majeraha yatokanayo na ukatwaji wa kucha yanaweza kupelekea maambukizi na vidonda. Usikate pembezoni mwa kucha. Usikate kucha zikawa fupi sana. Chonga kucha kurekebisha kingo za kucha.

Usikate kucha zako iwapo:

• Macho hayaoni vizuri
• Miguu ina ganzi
• Mtiririko wa damu sio mzuri
• Kucha zako ni nene na .ngumu sana.

Ngozi:

• Kisukari hupelekea ngozi kuwa kavu, hivyo kupasuka kwa urahisi.
• Hivyo tumia cream ya kulainisha ngozi kila siku.
• Usitumie cream ya kulainisha ngozi katikati ya vidole.
• Chunguza ngozi kwa ajili ya michano, malengelenge, au mipasuko kila siku.
• Sugu zikatwe na daktari.
• Usitumie plasta au kemikali kuondoa sugu.
• Usitumie chochote kwenye ngozi bila ushauri wa daktari.

Viatu :

Ni muhimu viatu vyako viwe sahihi kwa miguu yako, sababu viatu imekuwa ni moja ya sababu kubwa ya majeraha. Chunguza ndani ya viatu vyako iwapo kuna kitu chochote cha hatari kama misumari au mawe na mikwaruzo kwenye viatu kabla ya kuvivaa. Hii inaweza kuleta muasho, jeraha, au hata vidonda miguuni. Kinga miguu yako kwa kuvaa viatu wakati wote.

Vitu vya moto au baridi:

Epuka padi za kupashia joto, chupa za maji moto au tyubu za maji moto miguuni mwako. Upungufu wa hisia huweza kupelekea kuungua, au kupata malengelenge bila ya kuhisi maumivu.

Kumuona  daktari:

Kama una hisia tofauti kwenye miguu yako hakikisha unamuona daktari. Hakikisha unazungumza na daktari kuhusu utunzaji wa miguu pamoja na kuweka sukari katika kiwango kizuri. 

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ADDRESS BY DR. SEIF RASHID MINISTER OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL WELFARE TANZNIA AT THE OPENING OF 2^NDPAN-AFRICAN DIABETIC FOOT STUDY GROUP AND LAUNCHING OF 1^STEDITION OF DIABETIC FOOT BOOKLET AT BLUE PEARL HOTEL, DAR ES SALAAM ON 24^TH AUGUST 2014

 

 

President of European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) and Founding Chair, Diabetic Foot Study Group of EASD, Prof. Andrew Boulton from UK / USA

 

Chair of the International Working Group of Diabetic Foot and Chair of the International Diabetes Federation Consultative Section on the Diabetic foot, Dr. Kristien Van Acker from Belgium

 

Chairman of International Diabetes Federation Africa Region, Dr. Ahmed Reja from Ethiopia

 

Chairman of Pan-African Diabetic Foot Study Group, Dr. Zulfiqarali G. Abbas,

 

Organizing and scientific committee and executive board members of the Pan-African Diabetic Foot Study Group

 

Distinguished faculty members from abroad, Africa and Tanzania

 

Invited Guests and Delegates from 28 countries all over the world---19 from within the African Continent and 9 from outside Africa

 

Ladies and Gentleman

 

Allow me to start by thanking the organizing committee for inviting me to officially open this conference.  It is indeed a rare privilege to host such an important international conference, which has brought specialists from all over the world who work in the field of diabetic foot. I am delighted that Tanzania has been selected to host this conference – the first of its kind in the African continent.

 

On behalf of the Government of Tanzania and myself, I should like to welcome the faculty members to Tanzania.

 

As so often highlighted by Dr. Abbas, non-communicable disease like diabetes render an enormous burden both to the economic productivity of Tanzania, as well as to each individual with the condition.  In particular, diabetic foot complications exact an increasing financial as well as a personal burden that reduces the quality of life and which cannot be ignored.  The cost directly associated with the management and treatment of the disease and its complications is not sustainable given the limited human and financial resources available for healthcare issues in Tanzania.

 

We are looking for professionals, such as those who are participating in projects like the Step-by-Step Foot Project presented by Dr. Abbas, for solutions to pressing clinical and public health problems associated with diabetic foot ulcer disease, especially systemic infection, non-healing ulcers, and limb loss due to subsequent amputation.  I am pleased that the Step-by-Step Foot Project has taken up the challenge for the latter issue and has documented a significant lowering of amputation rates in regions across Tanzania.

 

We look forward to the input of many such professionals in addressing the various problems associated with diabetes and other chronic medical conditions in Tanzania.  More than that, we want to encourage the conduct of more applied research endeavors aimed at obtaining clinical and epidemiologic data that could be easily translated to patient care, and improvement in patient outcomes and quality of life.

 

I can assure you that my Ministry is aware of the magnitude of non-communicable diseases in our country.  For this reason, we would be very willing to collaborate with various organizations in finding solutions to these problems. 

 

Let me end my speech by once again commending Dr. Abbas and his team for organizing this event, and all of you for taking the time from your busy schedules to attend.

 

For those of you who are coming from outside Tanzania, I hope you will find time to enjoy the many touristic attractions that our beautiful country offers.

 

I wish you a very good conference and fruitful deliberations.  It is now my honor and privilege to declare the conference open officially.

 

Finally, it gives me great pleasure to take this opportunity to launch the well-illustrated pocket diabetic foot booklet for all health care workers dealing with diabetes and diabetic foot.

 

 Thank you all for your attention.

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Address by Dr. Zulfiqarali G. Abbas, Chairman of the Pan-African Diabetic Foot study Group at the opening of the 2^nd Pan-African Diabetic Foot study Group Conference and launching of the 1^st Edition of the Diabetic Foot Booklet at the Blue Pearl Hotel, Dar es Salaam on the 24^th of August 2014.

 

 

Hon. Minister of Health, Dr. Seif Rashid

 

President of European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) and Founding Chair, Diabetic Foot Study Group of EASD, Prof. Andrew Boulton from UK / USA

 

Chair of the International Working Group of Diabetic Foot and Chair of the International Diabetes Federation Consultative Section on the Diabetic foot, Dr. Kristien Van Acker from Belgium

 

Chairman of International Diabetes Federation Africa Region, Dr. Ahmed Reja from Ethiopia

 

Organizing and scientific committee and executive board members of the

Pan-African Diabetic Foot Study Group

 

Distinguished faculty members from abroad, Africa and Tanzania

 

Invited Guests and Delegates from 28 countries all over the world---19 from within the African continent and 9 from outside Africa

 

Ladies and Gentleman: Good morning to you all.

 

It give me great pleasure to have here today the Hon. Minister of Health, Dr. Seif Rashid, who has taken the time off his busy schedule to be with us.

 

We are extremely grateful to him for accepting the invitation to open this very important and first-of-its-kind international diabetic foot meeting on the African continent

 

I have known Dr. Seif personally since the 1990’s when we worked together.  This makes me very happy that he is one of us. 

 

Thank you very much for coming.

Diabetes is a serious chronic disease that needs urgent attention. In 2013, the global prevalence of diabetes was estimated at 382 million. This figure is predicted globally to reach 592 million (55% increase) by 2035. In Africa total number of diabetes 19.8 million in 2013 will increase to 41.4 million by 2035.At the same time diabetic foot complications will increase. Every 20 second a limb is lost due to diabetes. Approximately 15% of all the people  with  diabetes  will  be  affected  by  a  foot  ulcer  during  their  lifetime. Up to 85% of  amputations  in  relation  to  people  with  diabetes  are  preceded  by  a  foot  ulcer.

 

Fifteen percent (15%) of diabetic patients admitted in the hospital are due to foot problems. Eighty (80%) percent of these patients admitted with foot ulcers were presenting for the first time with diabetic foot ulcer. Thirty three (33%) per cent of admitted case with diabetes ended up with amputation to save their lives. Reason for high amputation rate is because that these patients report at hospital at very late stage. If diabetes patients report early to hospital for the treatment then foot and / or life can be saved. In most cases amputation had to be performed because of a combination of deep infection, loss of sensation and decrease in blood supply.

People with diabetes spend more time in hospital with foot ulcers than with any other complications of diabetes. The high rate of foot complications has a major impact on the diabetic population and on health budget. It is important to understand how foot problems develop, and how they can be prevented or detected early so that they can be treated successfully.

 

We are privileged to have an International faculty from Europe, USA and India for this conference. Generally, we only hear or read about the work of these individuals in the literature or textbooks.  Today they are here and we must take full advantage of their expertise and deliberations during the conference. I am also proud that we have also faculty member from within the African continent.  

I am sure we are going to gain a lot from your experience and I would like to welcome you all to Tanzania.

 

I should also like to thank the executive board members, and members of the Scientific and Organizing committee of PADFSG.

 

I wish you all a very good conference and fruitful deliberations. 

 

Thank you all for your attention