The National Association of Persons Living with Diabetes has urgently appealed to the Federal Government to subsidise the cost of essential medications and foodstuffs. This plea comes in response to the skyrocketing prices that have severely impacted the lives of diabetic patients across the country.
The National Coordinator of the group, Bernard Enyia, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar, highlighted the dire situation faced by diabetic patients due to the rising costs. Enyia, who also serves as the Vice President II of the Diabetes Association of Nigeria and Co-Chairman of the National Action on Sugar Reduction Coalition, expressed deep concern over the worsening economic conditions that have led to preventable deaths among patients.
He revealed that many diabetic patients are now resorting to traditional medicine, risking severe health consequences due to the unaffordability of conventional treatments. The prices of life-saving drugs, including insulin injections, have surged dramatically. For instance, insulin injections that cost ₦4,000 in 2022 now range between ₦19,000 and ₦24,000, with a single injection lasting only a week. Additionally, the cost of syringes has increased from ₦50 to ₦600, requiring patients to spend approximately ₦36,000 monthly just on syringes.
Enyia pointed out that President Bola Tinubu’s recent Executive Order aimed at easing the importation of food and pharmaceutical materials for local production has not significantly alleviated their plight. He emphasized that diabetes medications are not produced in Nigeria, and the equipment used for blood sugar testing is imported, further exacerbating the financial burden on patients.
Enyia’s monthly expenses for diabetic care now exceed ₦100,000, with those experiencing complications facing even higher costs. The group’s alarm is intended to raise awareness of the severe financial hardship faced by diabetic patients, urging the government to take immediate action to alleviate their suffering.