The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for urgent and sustained action to strengthen diabetes prevention, early diagnosis, and long-term management across all age groups.
In a message to mark the 2025 World Diabetes Day, the W.H.O Regional Director for Africa, Mohamed Janabi, warned that the continent is facing an unprecedented rise in diabetes.
Janabi attributed the surge to changing lifestyles, rising rates of overweight and obesity, and limited access to preventive and primary health services.
He noted that diabetes spares no one, explaining that each stage of life presents unique challenges which require tailored responses.
The World Diabetes Day is marked on 14 November every year to raise awareness about diabetes, its impact on health, and the importance of prevention, early diagnosis, and effective management.
This year’s theme, “Diabetes Across Life Stages,” highlights the need for continuous care and support, from childhood through old age.
According to WHO, more than 24 million adults aged 20 to 79 currently live with diabetes in the African region.
That number is projected to rise to 60 million by 2050 if current trends continue. Nearly half of those affected are undiagnosed, placing them at greater risk of severe complications such as heart disease, kidney failure, blindness, nerve damage and premature death.
Janabi cautioned that unless the trajectory is reversed, diabetes could overwhelm health systems, strain economies and erode hard-won development gains across the continent.
He called for resilient and well-resourced health systems capable of providing continuous care, from prevention and early detection to effective treatment and lifelong support.
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