Ghana has become the first country in Africa to take stock of a highly-sort after, efficient drug for Type 2 diabetes patients, Januvia.

This was announced by the President of the National Diabetes Association of Ghana, Elizabeth Esi Denyoh, during the launch of the 2024 Diabetes Day, in Accra.

Speaking during a press conference, Elizabeth Denyoh, who is also the Chairperson of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Africa, lamented the lack of support and seriousness of the government in granting the Association subsidies on its medication, which she said has affected it in a major way.

“For the past 2 years, all efforts to get government subsidy for the Association have failed and we are at this juncture calling for urgent intervention as we not see any seriousness on the part of the government. We want to state categorically today that from 2011, no diabetes association worldwide is an NGO, because of its seriousness, the global association were all placed under the various ministries of health,” she said.

Elizabeth Esi Denyoh also spoke about how the desire of the association to partner the Ministry of Health (MOH) to train health personnel in diabetes education, which she said was started at Winneba.

According to her, this move will help sustain the progress that has been made in the provision of health delivery and to attain the quality and specialized care for diabetes patients in the country.

Elizabeth Denyoh also called for testing to be encouraged in order for people to be able to get diagnosed and to know their status with regard the disease.

“It is no wonder that today diabetes is the leading cause of blindness; the leading cause of lower limb amputations after traumatic incidents; one in three people undergoing dialysis or renal transplants have diabetes as its root cause and diabetes along with its co-morbid conditions, is a major factor in the increasing numbers seen of people with cardiovascular disease.

“It has been estimated that a person with diabetes could have a shortened life span brought about by diabetes and its associated symptoms,” she added.

The press conference was also to launch the start of activities for the commemoration of this year’s World Diabetes Day which is under the theme: “Diabetes and Well-being.”

Elizabeth Denyoh also used the opportunity to announce the free distribution of Januvia to Type 2 diabetes patients in the country, which she added will be made through designated healthcare centers that they work with.

She further used the occasion to encourage exercising, while reiterating the need for subsidies for diabetic medication as there is a rise in complications and increasing deaths arising out of the disease.

“According to the latest Diabetes Atlas brought out by the International Diabetes Federation, there are about 425 million people with diabetes, and this is slated to increase significantly in the near future,” she said.

Januvia, produced by Merck & Co., Inc., is a once-daily oral medication designed to help lower blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes.

According to experts, it works uniquely by adjusting to the body’s needs, lowering blood sugar when it is too high, and reducing its effect when levels are low.

The medication’s ability to complement lifestyle changes like diet and exercise makes it an important addition to the care options available to diabetes patients in Ghana.