Gadong - On the occasion of World Diabetes Day, celebrated on 12th November, the Minister of Health highlighted the increasing health concerns related to diabetes in Gadong.
According to Radio Television Brunei, Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Doctor Awang Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar, stated that diabetic retinopathy rates in the country have increased from 18% to 22.8% over two decades. Furthermore, the prevalence of severe diabetic retinopathy and proliferative diabetic retinopathy has nearly doubled from 3.7% in 2015 to 6.3% in 2022. The minister also noted that 70% of patients undergoing dialysis for end-stage renal disease are diabetic.
Yang Berhormat emphasized the global rise in diabetes, with Brunei Darussalam witnessing a significant increase in obesity, a key factor linked to type 2 diabetes. Citing the World Health Organization's data, he mentioned that Brunei Darussalam's obesity rate stood at 32% in 2022, a substantial rise from 8.2% in 1990. Additionally, the STEPS 2015-2016 survey found that nearly two-thirds of Brunei's population are categorized as overweight or obese. Alarmingly, half of the children and adolescents aged between 5 to 19 in the country are also overweight or obese.
During the event, which was organized by the Department of Internal Medicine and the Health Promotion Centre of the Ministry of Health, five winners of an art competition organized by the Paediatric Department of Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital were awarded. The theme 'Access to Diabetes Care' underscored the necessity of improving diabetes care access for all patients.