Light of Hope Foundation offers free medical tests, sensitisation

The activity was funded through membership contributions. The medical test aimed at enabling participants to know their health status, whilethesensitizationwasaimedatimprovingtheir awareness on non-communicable diseases.

The Gambia ranks 175/188 on UNDP Human Development Indeks,henceamongtheleast developed countries worldwide. Diabetes and hypertension are increasingly becoming a serious global public health concern, particularly in developing countries including The Gambia.

In the Gambia, according to Non Communicable Disease (NCDs) Country Profiles 2014, NCDs (diabetes and hypertension) are estimated to account for 32% of total deathsandthepublichealthsystemis not geared towards the prevention and management of NCDs.

Pamela Jayeola, the Founder Light of Hope Foundation- The Gambia said the foundation aims at providing humanitarian service for people, most especially in the health sector.

Mrs Jayeola, also a long time diabetes patientsaidherfoundationorganisesmedicalcheckupsand awareness raising on diabetes and hypertension to ensure people know more about the disease as well as their health status.

“If you control what you eat, do physical exercise and eat good nutrition you can live long,” the over 20 years diabetes patientsaid.

She advised all diabetes patients to control their diet and exercise toensuretheymanagethedisease.

OusmanCeesay, the Vice President for Young Diabetes Patient Association of The Gambia described the activity as significant to them, sayingthesensitisationwouldenablethem to know more about the diseases and help them to control them.

Mr. Ceesay, also a diabetes patient stressed their constraints, saying: “Diabetes patients have a lot of challenges because we do not sleep well and we do not eat every food. It is indeed difficult if you are with people and you see them eating any kind of foods whileyou are restrictedtocertainfoods.”

Awa Ceesay, a participant said: “The sensitisationisveryimportant to me because I am learning a lot from the health experts. So, I will apply the knowledge gained and advise others.”