FMIC

​Understanding the importance of creating awareness on diabetes, the French Medical Institute for Mothers and Children (FMIC) marked the World Diabetes Day on Monday November 14, 2016.

The theme for World Diabetes Day in 2016 is Eyes on Diabetes which highlights the importance of integrating screening for diabetes complications into ongoing care for people living with diabetes. According to Diabetes federation, Diabetes is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease, blindness, kidney failure and lower-limb amputation and it is a responsibility of healthcare providers to raise awareness among public. 

The awareness session on Diabetes at FMIC was held in collaboration with Afghanistan Diabetes Association (AfDA) Directorate. Dr Irfan Jeva ophthalmologist from Aga Khan University Hospital also attended the session. 

Dr Abdullah Fahim, Medical Director, FMIC opening the session stated that Diabetes afflicts more people each day and he considers awareness fundamental to control Diabetes and its effects especially related to vision. Also he briefed the audience on the services available in FMIC for treatment of this disease mainly of eye care.  “FMIC vision care has comprehensive vision care services for diabetic patients and effort is made for expanding the services”. He added. 

Dr Farid Homayon, Director of AfDA speaking at the event briefed the participants of activities of AfDA is doing in order to curb this illness. “Afghanistan is one of the 19 countries and territories of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) of Middle East and North Africa region.  As the reports of IDF 415 million people have diabetes in the world and more than 35.4 million people in the MENA Region; by 2040 this will rise to 72.1 million. In Afghanistan there were 935,800 cases of diabetes in 2015.” Dr Homayon stated. 

The programme also included two presentations by Dr Mohammad Saleh Ahmadzai, Consultant Internal Medicine and Dr Samin Sadiq, Consultatnt Ophthalmologist and concluded by a walk for Diabetes in the FMIC compound.

The session was attended by more than 150 participants. Mainly the participants were patients diagnosed with diabetes at FMIC. 

World Diabetes Day (WDD) is celebrated annually on November 14. The celebration was first created by International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organisation on 1991 in response to growing concerns about the escalating health threat posed by diabetes.