Rising Diabetes in Cameroon

World Diabetes Day is an annual event observed on 14 November, to raise awareness of diabetes as a global public health issue and what needs to be done, collectively and individually, for better prevention, diagnosis and management of the condition.

The day was proposed by the International Diabetes Federation in 1991 with support from the World Health Organisation and became an official United Nations Day in 2006.

Diabetes is a rampant health issue that continues to take a toll on people across the globe. It is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas is no longer able to make insulin, or when the body cannot make good use of the insulin it produces. Mismanagement of diabetes can lead to serious consequences, causing damage to a wide range of the body’s organs and tissues — including the heart, kidneys, eyes and nerves.

The burden of diabetes in Cameroon is not only high but is also rising rapidly. The prevalence of diabetes in adults in urban areas is currently estimated at 6 – 8%, with as much as 80% of people living with diabetes who are currently undiagnosed in the population.
Findings from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2016 study revealed that diabetes mellitus accounted for over 132,000 disability adjusted life years (DALY) and about 4000 deaths in Cameroon. These demonstrate that the burden of diabetes on the society is enormous in terms of morbidity and mortality, and by extension, a significant impact on the economy and healthcare systems.

This year’s World Diabetes Day is commemorated under the theme, “access to diabetes education”, which underpins the larger multi- year theme “access to care”.
Having the right education and at the right time can reduce the risk factors and minimize the chances to develop complications of diabetes and thus reduce morbidity and mortality in diabetics. It is also important to stay physically active, lose extra weight, eat healthy diets, drink water instead of beverages that may be high in sugar as well as eat small portions of food at a time. It is worth noting that, early detection is key in diabetes because early treatment can prevent damage to the heart, kidneys, eyes, nerves, and other vital organs.

If you need more information about the disease or need help managing diabetes, we are here for you. Visit our website www.klarah.com.

We are proud to join the world to raise awareness on this chronic disease, that so plagues our nation, Cameroon, and the world at large.

Klarah Nominated for World Summit Awards

Press Release

HACK THE GAPS – DIGITAL.PURPOSE DRIVEN. GLOBAL. THE WSA NOMINEES OF 2022

KLARAH SELECTED AS BEST NATIONAL DIGITAL SOLUTION FOR INTERNATIONAL AWARD IN THE CATEGORY HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

BUEA/Salzburg, 23rd September 2022

Smart content combined with optimized utilization of state-of-the-art technology offers immense opportunities to close global and local divides and the achievement of the UN SDGs. KLARAH was nominated as the best national digital solution for CAMEROON for the international WSA (World Summit Awards), awarding yearly digital innovation with an impact on society.  With this nomination in the Category HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, KLARAH qualifies for evaluation by the WSA Jury 2022 among over 350 international nominations – a global diameter of digital innovation, from Canada to Indonesia, from Finland to Mozambique. 

The WSA nominees 2022 show the richness, diversity, future, and innovation of digital solutions on a global scale and prove how digital technology can improve society on each corner of the world.

KLARAH was nominated as the best national digital solution for CAMEROON for the international WSA.

KLARAH provides mobile apps and intuitive dashboards to improve access to healthcare by matching patients to nurses based on patient need, carer experience and their proximity to each other. By leveraging Africa’s illustrious diaspora as initial sponsors for healthcare financing, KLARAH is enabling quality home healthcare in Cameroon with its eyes set on other African countries in the near future.

The WSA 2022 nominees will be evaluated based on seven fundamental criteria: Content, Functionality, Design, Technology, Innovation, Impact and Value. 

“WSA combines two major perspectives in its initiative – first the commitment on the UN SDGs, and how to use ICTs to development.  And second the development of a global knowledge society. The UN SDGs must be our measurement – in terms of what to look at and where to look. Today we are living in a completely different environment – through the mobile revolution, through the emergence of the algorithmic age – data has become a capital as much as labour, land money and machinery. Hence, it is more important than ever to evaluate what is excellent content that really offers solutions and impact. Qualitative, local content has become the key and permanent issue. WSA presents innovation that uses ICT for social connectivity. To hack the global gaps.“ WSA Chairman Peter A. Bruck.

The WSA nominees are selected carefully and highly competitive by the WSA National Experts from more than 184 UN member states. The WSA National Experts nominate up to eight projects for each country – one for every WSA category. 

A nomination to the WSA hence is already an award in itself – the qualification to compete and compare on an international level and being the best practice in Health and Well-being nationally. 

 

About the WSA

WSA is a global initiative within the framework of the United Nations World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). WSA is the only ICT event worldwide, that reaches the digital-driven social impact community in over 180 countries. WSA highlights digital content improving society and focuses on local content with global relevance.

Visit us on www.wsa-global.org, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, #WSA21

Media Contact WSA: 

 

Manuela Wagner

WSA Global Community Manager
manuela@wsa-global.org

+43.660.630408.7  

How We Helped Diane’s Ailing Mother

Diane is a young Cameroonian Marketer living in the UAE. She has a good career and financially comfortable to take care of herself as well as her family back home in Cameroon.

One day, all of a sudden, Diane’s mother fell seriously sick. Diane in the beginning didn’t have much of a problem because she was able to send some money back home for her mother’s medical coverage.

However, after some time Diane became so worried and stressed because despite all the money she has been sending for her mom’s medical bills, her mother’s health condition only grew worse.
There was no sign of recovery, her mother’s health condition worsened, she was later discharged from the hospital.

At home, Diane’s family members are all taking care of mama, but there’s just so much they can do, due to technological and time limitations, and none of could accurately explain the mother’s medical condition to Diane.
Diane became so worried and stressed, she could not obtain permission from her employers at the moment to travel home, so she was very stressed and became distracted at work.
While browsing through her phone one day, Diane came across #Klarah on Facebook. It’s a Homehealth tech company. Diane decided to contact them if they can be of any help in her mother’s situation.
Diane subscribed to klarah and immediately Klarah caregivers went to Diane’s family home, where the mother was. They met her in a critical condition, they immediately got the doctor to see her, the doctor prescribed medications for mama and wrote a medical report.

Klarah was able to communicate all these to Diane and told her the state of her mother’s health.
The caregivers started medical visits to mama at home and amongst other things, monitoring mama’s health. They were able to make sure mama follows prescribed medication and proper nutrition.
Diane this morning is so happy, she is no longer stressed and she was able to talk to her mother on a video call, and mama was just from doing her morning exercise with the klarah caregiver. Mama was doing so fine that Diane gave a big smile. Diane is so happy that she found klarah and for their timely and uninterrupted intervention in her mother’s health.

Most of us are going through stress and worry because of the health conditions of our relatives back home, with limited medical attention.

If you are Diane and require help, click here to register as an angel

 

Telltale signs your loved one requires home healthcare

Having a home health care professional should not only come to mind in case of emergencies or health needs necessitating hospitalization. Many seniors can benefit from regularly scheduled visits from a home health caregiver to monitor their health, follow up doctor’s appointment and help with other tasks.

Here are some telling signs that your elderly loved one needs home health care.

– Their personal hygiene and appearance is neglected.
– Frequent forgetfulness, they have difficulty remembering names, places, appointments or where they keep things.
– Difficulty managing medication
– Poor physical health
– Their homes are not maintained
– Reduced mobility; difficulty moving around
– Repeated falls or injury
– Bed sores.

Having professional home healthcare can supplement the care that families are already providing to senior loved ones and help keep seniors healthier even if they have chronic health conditions.