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One Doctor, Thousands Await: Cameroon's Diabetes Crisis
23 Mar
Summary
- A sole diabetes specialist serves thousands across northern Cameroon.
- Most diabetes cases in Cameroon remain undiagnosed.
- Noncommunicable diseases now rival infectious ones for mortality risk.
Dr. Paulette Djeugoue begins her day before sunrise at her clinic in northern Cameroon, where dozens of patients, some having traveled from neighboring Nigeria and Chad, await her expertise. As the region's sole diabetes specialist, she faces an overwhelming demand, serving a fraction of those afflicted.
An alarming 75 percent of people with diabetes in Cameroon are unaware of their condition, a figure even higher in rural areas. This underscores a critical epidemiological transition across Africa, where the risk of dying from noncommunicable diseases like diabetes is now on par with infectious diseases.
Historically, health systems have prioritized infectious diseases, making strides against HIV and tuberculosis. Now, efforts are underway to bolster resources for diabetes care, a condition affecting an estimated 54 million in Africa and leading to severe complications such as blindness and amputations. The goal is to incorporate diabetes screening and treatment into primary healthcare services.
