The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that nearly three out of every four adults living with diabetes in Africa are unaware of their condition, exposing millions to potentially life-threatening complications.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, disclosed this in a message to commemorate the 2026 World Diabetes Day on Saturday, warning that delayed diagnosis was increasing the risk of kidney failure, blindness, cardiovascular diseases and lower-limb amputations across the continent.
Janabi said an estimated 24.6 million adults aged 20 to 79 were living with diabetes in the WHO African Region in 2024, with the figure projected to rise to 59.5 million by 2050.
He described the situation as urgent, calling on governments, healthcare workers, communities and development partners to strengthen public awareness, promote early diagnosis and expand access to affordable and quality diabetes care.
The 2026 World Diabetes Day is being commemorated under the theme, “Early Action on Diabetes.”
The WHO Regional Director urged members of the public to pay attention to warning signs of the disease, including increased thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, persistent tiredness and blurred vision.
He advised people experiencing such symptoms to seek medical testing and professional advice promptly, while encouraging those at increased risk to undergo regular screening even in the absence of noticeable symptoms.
Janabi also called on communities to intensify awareness campaigns, share accurate information and address stigma and discrimination against people living with diabetes.
He urged healthcare workers to prioritise early recognition of symptoms, timely testing and compassionate, patient-centred care to prevent complications and improve treatment outcomes.
Highlighting efforts to strengthen diabetes management across the continent, Janabi said WHO was supporting countries through initiatives including the WHO Package of Essential Noncommunicable Disease Interventions (WHO PEN), HEARTS, HEARTS-D and PEN-Plus.
He particularly commended Rwanda for achieving nationwide district-level coverage of PEN-Plus, describing it as an example of progress in expanding access to essential noncommunicable disease services.
However, he noted that significant challenges remained, particularly inadequate access to trained healthcare workers, diagnostic services, essential medicines and continuous treatment.
Janabi urged African governments to make diabetes prevention, early diagnosis and sustained treatment priorities within primary healthcare systems and universal health coverage programmes.
He said this would require sustained investment in public awareness, affordable insulin and essential medicines, diagnostic facilities, skilled health personnel and stronger healthcare delivery systems.
The WHO official also called on development partners, civil society organisations and the private sector to support government-led efforts, particularly in underserved communities where access to healthcare services remains limited.
He reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to supporting member states in accelerating progress towards the 2030 targets of the Framework for the Implementation of the Global Diabetes Compact in the African Region.
Janabi stressed that early detection and access to quality treatment were critical to preventing avoidable deaths and disabilities associated with diabetes.
“Know the symptoms. Do not ignore the warning signs. Seek testing and care early. Encourage others to do the same,” he urged.
He said collective action was necessary to build an Africa where diabetes could be detected early and quality treatment made accessible to everyone, regardless of their location or economic circumstances.
