By Ibebe Rufus
LAGOS AUGUST 6TH (URHOBOTODAY)-Graceland Diabetes Foundation has saved lives of several people suffering from diabetes diseases and high blood pressure in Osubi, Delta State. Those who did not have fund for diagnosis were disguised free of charge, while those who tested positive to diabetes and high blood pressure were treated free of charge and giving free drugs that will last them for a long time.
As at when Urhobotoday correspondent left the Osubi town hall the venue for the diagnosis and free treatment no fewer than two hundred people had undergone diagnosis and free treatment.
Graceland Diabetes Foundation, a non-governmental organization (N.G.O) founded by Mrs. Mercy Otome Ekpoke in collaborated with Chief Oborevwiri Sherriff and Okpe community have no doubt made the people proud and created hope of long life and belonging to them by organizing diabetes and high blood pressure awareness campaign at Osubi town hall for both young and old people in the community.

The programme which started as early as 8:00am on the 2nd of August, created an avenue for people from all walk of life to have their Blood sugar level (B.S.L.) screened. These persons also had their blood pressure checked. Those attended Twere advised on the kind of diets to take in other to ensure that they do not become diabetes and high blood pressure patients, while those that have already had the disease, were educated on the types of diets to take in other to ensure that they were able to manage the disease. Mrs Ekpoke and other members of the organisation took out time, to properly treat the various diabetic patients that were diagnosed by giving them free drugs.

Mrs Ekpoke who spoke to Urhobotoday disclosed that the organization was founded in 2008 to provide support for people suffering from diabetes and hypertension. She noted that over six million Nigerians have been diagnosed of diabetes. She, however, said the number of undiagnosed people living with the disease could be more than the numbers of those that have been diagnosed.
She mentioned Lagos, Ogun state, Oshimili, Uvwie and Orerokpe among others as some of the places were they have carried out awareness programme on the disease in the past. She advised that early diagnosis of diabetes status is the only way to save life. She added that, the only way to control the disease is to mind the kind of food that one eats on a daily basis. She however, said that Graceland foundation has been able to successfully diagnose and treat many diabetic patients all over the world.

Mrs. Ekpoke used the opportunity to call one the government and good people of Nigeria to come to the aid of one Miss Olutu Onomewho who has been living with diabetes since 2012. The 16 year old SSS 3 student of Ebenezer Secondary School, Eku, need insulin in other to continue living. According to the founder, the little girl has diabetes type I which will need a meal of insulin at the cost of two thousand, five hundred naira (N2, 500) daily. She therefore, asks kind hearted Nigerians to please help with what ever amount they have in other to save the life of the little girl. All donations to save the girl that lives at number 53 ore-okpe Warri road can be made through the N.G.O.
She appealed to government and well meaning Nigerians to assist the N.G.O with a utility vehicle and an office in other to serve the people of the society better.
Mrs. Ekpoke called on the beneficiaries to ensure that they put all what they had been taught into practice. She said that they must ensure that they carry the message to others in other to ensure that everybody become aware of the need to know their diabetic status.
Chief Oborevwiri Sheriff, who was one of the collaborators, said that he decided to invest in the programme because he saw it as an avenue to help his people. He said he choosed to work with the N.G.O to carry out the programme because he believe in their vision.
Mr. Peter Ekpoke, a health care professional trained in the United kingdom (U.K), said while educating the participant on the dangerous effect of high blood pressure, that high blood pressure kills faster than AIDS. He said that 57 million adult Nigerians are diagnosed of High blood pressure. He therefore called on all those that have not checked their blood pressure to so quickly do so as that is the only way to stay healthy.

Mr. Sunday Izeze one of the beneficiaries of the programme, thanked the organizers for the opportunity given to him to know is diabetic status. Another beneficiary, Miss Onajite Agbeyi called on the government to help the N.G.O. to grow in other to do more for the society. She however prayed that God should strengthen the N.G.O to be enable them do more in the future. Prince Ayikimi Godbless who came all the way from Ughelli to attend the occasion said he was over whelmed with the quality of services that was rendered to them in the course of the programme. He said that these services were not even found in some hospitals in the country. He said that he will do everything possible to do all what he has been taught in the progromme in other to stay healthy. Another beneficiary Mrs. Floxy Kokori promise to educate others when she gets home. Her words, “I will ensure that I teach others what I have learnt in this programme. I have been tested and treated for free, so when I get home, I will tell those that did not come that it is good to know you diabetic status as well as your weight, high blood pressure and mind the food that you eat.”