BUSIA: The huge number of diabetic patients seeking treatment at Masafu General Hospital in Busia district has overloaded the facilities. Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects the human body by converting food into energy. It occurs when the body is unable to transport sugar into cells and utilise it for energy.
According to Dr. Mathias Wabwire Panyako, the Busia District health officer, the hospital records around 120 new diabetes cases and at least two deaths each month. According to Wabwire, this is more than double the amount of incidents they previously registered. Previously, the hospital would get between 60 and 70 new cases every month.
He claims that the age groups most impacted include youngsters aged 15 to 20 and seniors aged 40 and up. The condition is more frequent in men, and Mellitus Diabetes is the most common kind diagnosed at the hospital. According to Wabwire, the busiest districts include Busime, Majanji, Lunyo, and the surrounding Namayingo.
Wabwire claims that there are still inadequate pharmaceuticals to address the growing number of patients at the hospital, forcing them to refer some of them to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital for treatment.
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He attributed the increasing number of Diabetes patients to poor lifestyles and risk factors like poor diet, smoking, drinking alcohol, obesity, and genetic conditions. He advises residents to begin doing physical exercise and avoid unhealthy feeding behavior like eating fatty foods among others.
Seferio Semeyo, 76, a diabetic patient who was admitted at Masafu General Hospital, says that he has suffered from paralysis, frequent urination, and swelling legs for the last five years. He says that the situation worsened two weeks ago prompting him to seek treatment, where it was confirmed that he is diabetic.
Joseph Bwire Achoka, another diabetic patient, says that its last year when he was diagnosed with Diabetes after experiencing too much pain and swelling in the legs.
