Former President Olusegun
Obasanjo on Friday morning led hundreds of people on road walk for diabetes awareness in Abeokuta, the Ogun
State capital, declaring that he still walk with agility at 80, despite being
diabetic.
Obasanjo revealed that he was
diagnosed of diabetes over 30 years ago but said the condition has not affected
his daily functions because of efficient management of it, exercise and strict
adherence to prescribed drugs for Diabetes.
The Ebora Owu who made this known
to journalists in Abeokuta, shortly after completing a kilometer walk uphill
along Abiola Way, recalled that his primary school Headmaster was also
diagnosed of diabetes at 50 but managed to live up to 85 years, following
proper management of the ailment.
According to him, diabetes does
not kill if well managed, but only bares its fangs and kills those who do not
give a damn about it.
Obasanjo who was joined in the
road walk by the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba AbdulRasheed Akanbi from Osun State, the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr.
Babatunde Ipaye, and members of the Diabetes Association of Nigeria (DAN),
lamented that many of the nation’s youth rarely exercise to remain fit.
He urged Nigerians, particularly those
living with diabetes, to engage in regular exercise, use prescribed drugs
faithfully and watch their diet to avoid
being knocked down by diabetic disease.
“Diabetes is not a disease that
should kill, I was diagnosed to be diabetic more than 30 years ago but rather,
I am growing strong, if you don’t believe I am growing strong and you didn’t
witness this walk, come and see me at night, you will know I am growing strong,
come and see me in the morning, you will know I am growing, even in the
afternoon, you will know I am growing strong.
“What is necessary is a
management of diabetes. Some people said some diseases are incurable, but
diabetes is manageable and compliant.
“My headmaster in primary school
was diagnosed at the age of 50 and died at age 85, you will agree with he
tried.
“What to do is that if you’re
diabetic don’t be nonchalant about it and don’t eat carelessly. Three things
are important, the food you eat, regular exercise and prescribed medication,
those are the three most important things.
“You can be diabetic and still
lives till 100, I don’t know when I would die but I am above 80 and many of the
youth could not catch up with my pace during
the exercise this morning, many of them were running to keep pace me.
“This is my message. Whether
you’re diabetic or you have a family or friend with diabetic, diabetes is not a
killer disease or it should not be a killer disease unless you are careless,”
Obasanjo said.
Also, Oba AbdulRasheed Akanbi he
was in Abeokuta to support the ex – President and his foundation in the walk
for Diabetes awareness, and urge people to exercise regularly and adopt a
healthy lifestyle.
The Chief Executive Officer of Olusegun
Obasanjo Foundation (OOF), Dr. Olalekan Makinde, said the Foundation has
interest in Health of people particularly giving awareness to Non – communicable Disease (NCD).
“The focus this year is on women,
because of the high level of morbidity and mortality that has been related to
them. I want to enjoin Nigerians to join hands with the Foundation to further
create a better life for all Nigerians and Africans,” Makinde said.
The about two kilometre walk
which began at the Marque within the sprawling Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential
Library(OOPL), Abeokuta, coursed through MKO Abiola Way and had 15 minutes stop
– over at the premises Sunny Yinka Oil on same before turning to end it at the
take off point.
The road walk was organized by
the Southwest zone of the Diabetes Association of Nigeria (DAN) in
collaboration with the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation (OOF) to mark the year
edition of the World Diabetes Day(WDD).
In a lecture titled: “Women and
Diabetic: Our Right to Healthy Living,” former chairman of DAN, Prof. Sunny
Chieneye called for concerted efforts to check the menace of diabetes.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayAdvertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
Dear Nigerian eye..Your page only shows highlights. We cannot read the underlying story. It shows a blank page when clicked for full story. What is wrong with your website?
ReplyDeleteHello Sir/Ma
DeleteThanks for the feedback, our technical team have looked into the problem.