13% of Belizeans suffer from diabetes
It’s one of the most common health problems in Belize and the Caribbean. This morning I found out just how widespread diabetes has become.
Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
The Belize Diabetes Association got off to an early start before its week of activities comes into full swing on November tenth. Today, during a special ceremony held at City Hall, Belize City Mayor Zenaida Moya delivered a Proclamation of Diabetes. According to Belize Diabetes Association’s President Anthony Castillo it was a special request from the International Federation of Diabetes to all its member countries.
Anthony Castillo, President, B.D.A.
“To get the main city, get the mayor from main city to make a proclamation and show their support for the fight against diabetes.”
Zenaida Moya, Mayor, Belize City
“Now, therefore, I Zenaida Moya , Mayor of Belize City do hereby proclaim November fourteenth, 2007 to be World Diabetes Day in Belize and urge all Belizeans to support the Belize Diabetes Association to fight this silent killer.”
This year’s observance will be held under the theme Diabetes in Children and Adolescents. According to Nadine Alvarez it has been a challenge since her fifteen year old son Alvin was first diagnosed with juvenile Diabetes at the age of six.
Nadine Alvarez, Mother of Diabetic Child
“Dah mi wah big challenge fi me because when I find out I get frighten but I just cope with it.”
Jacqueline Godwin
“I am a diabetic too so I know how challenging it is for us to be told you can’t drink that soft drink or eat a slice of cake. I know that because I go through that as well. For you, what has it been like?”
Alvin Alvarez, Juvenile Diabetic
“It hard, it really hard when you di watch people di eat it and you can’t eat it and sometimes I just go and stay away from them because ah know ah wah want eat it but I try noh fi eat it.”
Nadine Alvarez
“Well I always have to rail up because sometimes well I wah try mi best home but when he deh out I noh know weh ih di do.”
Alvin who takes insulin twice a day says he tries to maintain healthy diet. There were also testimonials from sixty-two year old B.D.A. member Joyce Flowers and well known sports caster and Disc Jockey E.J. Hill.
Joyce Flowers, Diabetic
“We need to change our lifestyle.”
E.J. Hill, Diabetic
“I went to the doctor and the doctor just told me just by looking at parts of my body he said Mr. Hill welcome to the world of diabetics. Oh man. And don’t stress yourself because the more you stress yourself your sugar levels go up.”
A recent study conducted by the Pan American Health Organization and the Ministry of Health revealed that thirteen percent of Belize’s population around thirty-nine thousand people are living with the condition.
Anthony Castillo
“It also indicate that more females are being affected by the condition than males. There are more females who are obese than males and the body mass index show a number of factors which sort of put females more at risk for diabetes than males.”
“Fortunately for us in Belize not many children have been affected by Type I Diabetes, however there are quite a number of younger persons been affected by Type II Diabetes which is a lifestyle condition.”
Diabetes week will be held between November tenth and sixteenth and the public is encouraged to attend as many of the activities as they can.
On Saturday Diabetes week starts off with a walk through the principal streets of Belize City. Throughout the week there will be a church service, visits to schools and a health fair.
