WDF,experts convene diabetes foot workshop in Lagos

Rainbow Specialist Medical Centre, in partnership with the World Diabetes Foundation and the Podiatry Institute, United States,  have organised the third annual capacity building workshop on diabetes foot care in Lagos. The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Afoke Isiavwe, in a statement on Sunday, said the workshop with the theme, ‘Initiating, Implementing and Sustaining a National Diabetes Foot Care Policy’, which begins today,  is expected to feature resource persons from the USA, South Africa and others.

According to the podiatrist, Nigeria has the highest population of patients with diabetes foot complications in Africa; hence the need to train health workers on how to identify, treat and manage such cases.

Isiavwe stated, “Diabetic foot complications, though preventable, are a leading cause of admission, amputation and mortality in diabetic patients worldwide. For diabetes mellitus foot syndrome, prevention is better than cure. Sadly, many persons affected report for treatment too late when not much can be done to help them, except amputation, to save their lives.

“The workshop is therefore being organised to bring the medical practitioners and other health care workers involved in diabetes management up-to-date, especially in the care of the feet of persons living with diabetes.

“Podiatry, a branch of medicine which deals with the care of the foot, is currently not taught in any Nigerian school of medicine.  We plan to bridge this gap – in the interim, by providing a  forum for Nigerian health care professionals to acquire basic foot care  skills.”

PUNCH.