Free diabetes tests offered
IN a preventative healthcare drive, the Independent Community Pharmacy Association (ICPA) has committed to screen 100000 people for diabetes before the end of the month.
The initiative forms part of the ICPA's role as the representative of independent pharmacists in South Africa, who do not only have their customers/patients' best health interests at heart, but also value and support preventative and cost-reduction actions of the broader healthcare industry.
"As a non-communicable or non-infectious disease, diabetes is a key health focus area in South Africa," says IPCA chairman Sham Moodley.
"Diabetes SA estimates that four to six million South Africans have diabetes, but 80% are unaware of their condition.
Having such a substantial number of undiagnosed patients out there is concerning and places a huge burden on both the government and private sector.
"Not only are lives at stake but the cost burden has serious implications for our country," says Sham.
"To help address this situation, we partnered with the National Department of Health and Roche Products (Pty) Ltd (Diabetes care) to get patients screened and the data logged before November."
Evidence indicates that if people identified as high risk are given this information timeously and then implement appropriate lifestyle interventions, they are 60% less likely to progress to Type 2 diabetes.
People interested in having a free diabetes screening from today to November 9 should visit Kempston Road pharmacy, Durban Road pharmacy, Gelvandale pharmacy and Sanctor pharmacy.