The Accra Excel Lions Club is to raise $200,000 to establish a diabetes and blood sugar related ailments Centre in the Tema West Municipality.

The Centre, when established will become a resource point for diabetes treatment in Ghana and also help to educate the general public on the symptoms of early diabetes and how to prevent it.

Mr Edward Adzimah, the Charter President of the club, who announced this at a charter night and fundraising ceremony over the weekend, said the signature project was the outcome of many health screening exercises carried out by the Club, which showed that most affected persons were unaware.

He said the facility was a priority of the club to help in the fight to reduce the incidence of diabetes in the country.

According to data from the World Health Organisation, diabetes remained one of the leading causes of death worldwide. In Sub-Saharan Africa, it is estimated that eight per cent of the population above 25 years have diabetes.

In Ghana, an estimated four million people suffer from diabetes, many of them unaware of their condition.

Mr Adzimah said because diabetes killed slowly, it was important to educate and encourage people to undertake regular check-ups to know their status.

“Once individuals are able to establish their status, it will enable them to take the necessary precautions to manage the disease,” he said.

Mr Adzimah encouraged institutions and individuals to support the initiative to construct the Centre.

Dr Kwaku Mensah-Bonsu, the District 418 Governor of the Lions Club, commended Excel Lions Club members for their service to society and encouraged them to continue to serve their communities and humanity as a whole.

On her part, Mrs Lydia Alhassan, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayawaso West Waguon, who was the guest of honour, expressed her gratitude to the club for its decision to construct the centre and pledged her support towards its timely completion.

She emphasised the importance of service to mankind and called on the Club members to be dedicated and focused on their course.



Meanwhile, Excel Lions Club was presented its charter, which is the official recognition of its membership of the Lions International family and District 418, Ghana.

The Lions Club is a volunteering group, which started in 1917 with over 47,000 individual clubs and 1.4 million members across the world and serves over 200 communities around the world with the mission to empower volunteers to serve their communities on humanitarian needs and peace.