Midrand Lions Club gives back and offers free diabetes screening
MIDRAND – It is estimated that diabetes contributes to more than 5 million deaths per year.
The Midrand Lions Club offered a free diabetes screening on 17 November at the Boulders Shopping Centre.
The club’s president Cliff Hocking said the World Health Organisation estimated that diabetes contributed to more than five million deaths per year.
He said that it is the eighth leading cause of death in the world and the numbers are rising, “Therefore, it has become known as the ‘silent killer’ disease or even referred to as the tsunami disease of the 21st century, killing more people worldwide than aids and cancer combined.”
“With these statistics in mind, Lions Club International has taken action through their long-term diabetes programmes, embracing the support of diabetes awareness, education, prevention, detection, control and research. A person will not generally know that he or she has diabetes until they have a blood test.”
Hocking added that because prevention was better than cure, the club had arranged for free diabetic screenings in collaboration with a diabetes health care professional.
“The purpose of diabetes screening is to identify asymptomatic individuals who may have diabetes and not be aware of it and to refer them to professionals for additional assessment. This diabetes screening is an ideal way for us as Lions to educate our community about prevention and control in addressing this silent killer.”
For more information about the Midrand Lions Club, contact Cliff Hocking on 082 411 2824 or midrandlions@mweb.co.za
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