Embracing strong pillars
All protocol observed; if we have bottoms in our hearts, it’s
from that depth that our gratitude flows your way for turning up for this
diabetes fundraising concert tonight. Mommy, my biggest fan and supporter,
strongest backbone, you nurtured me with every fibre within you and look at me
today. My diabetes warrior, Janae-you are a gift to the people of Gulu just
like your name Mic. Josiah, we would
never ask for another support system, you are everything, a mother, sister
would ever ask for. Your sister is safe with you by her side. My family and
friends thank you; the strangers, thank you. Every one of us at some point was
a stranger to one another, but with a nod, a smile, a hello, we became friends
and family.
Paul Mutanga, no amount of words can express my gratitude to
you and the entire team of O café thank you, thank you. Our sponsors for the
concert; Coca-cola, Stanbic bank, cloud core systems, music for peace band, Benjamin
Spartos, O’café Gulu, radio Pacis, radio King, radio Rupiny, United Youth
Entertainment, Vava Art studio, Uganda Breweries Limited, NorthFly, my YALI
family and all the promoters in various ways; thank you for being a pillar to
this event.
The artists; Beatrice, Benjamin Spartos, Captain Samo, Daugy
Fresh, Jeff Korondo, MC Twitch, Mc Wang Jok, Mr. Green, Riky Bird, Hope, Doreen,
Oscar; and the music for Peace band and all the artists performing tonight; we
would never afford the millions to pay you for this. You have shown us that we can
depend on each other for a greater good.
All of you here today are the ones making our dream come to
reality. You all are our pillars. We are hopeful that after tonight, the 10
blood glucose testing machines and random blood sugar strips we are fundraising
to empower health centres to be able to screen for diabetes will see day light,
the 500 insulin syringes for our diabetes warriors on insulin regimen will save
their skins from the damage caused by over repeating the same syringe for they
cannot afford them. They need insulin for survival and the insulin gets in them
through the syringe. The diabetes charity awareness walk that will be in Awach
this November 9, 2019 will be successful because of each and every one of you
seated here. We do not take your support for granted and we are immensely
grateful!
Are you wondering why I am so passionate about diabetes…?
See, on a Thursday morning of July 2, 2015; my mother rushed
to my room sounding very concerned; “Janae (my daughter) cannot go to school
because she is vomiting all over the bathroom”; it was a school day and as
usual the grandma was to prepare her for the day. In my sleepiness I told her,
“bring her to my bed” on looking at how frail she was I sprang out of bed
immediately, all sleep left me. I carried my baby girl, naked as she was to the
kitchen where the family usually sits. I could smell the sweetness of her
breath, eyes so hollow, so pale, the skin rashes were more pronounced this
morning. How did I miss out on how slim she had grown? She was no longer the
girl I knew, she looked so different. Did she waste away just over night? Her sight was a pain to behold-something was
eating up my baby right under my nose. I went into a panic at the rate of her
heartbeat which was faster than anything I have ever heard before, her breath
so labored. To the hospital I whisked her and the monster eating her was type 1
diabetes. How could the doctors not have diagnosed this in our prior visits
when it hadn’t reached this life threatening stage? A force of strength was
what filled me; I had never felt that courageous. I faced the situation with so
much bravery, partly for her. How would she feel if she saw me broken? Little
did I even know she had actually passed out
It had never crossed my innocent mind that diabetes affects
not only adults but children, here my 5 year old baby was fighting for her
life? Would she make it? I saw how the nurses fidgeted and were unsure on how
to handle her let alone give her the much needed life saving insulin shots.
Many of them gave the shots the wrong way and all the white of the medication
would just swell right under her skin
Had I known the signs and symptoms of diabetes her life
wouldn’t have been put on the line
While still in the hospital, one day a nurse came and asked
if I could do them (the hospital) a favour and go to the general ward and help
check blood sugar of a 60 year old lady because that government hospital has
only one glucometer which sits in the main laboratory. Having our own
glucometer, I didn’t see why I couldn’t help. I found this patient seated
looking so blank and all hope lost; her caretaker, her son was by her side
looking defeated and in despair, holding his head in both hands. I held the
lady’s fingers, it was so tough and scaling away, same with her legs which were
also swollen. I was taken aback-diabetes is cruel! I just couldn’t draw the
blood, so i asked whether the son could help me draw some; she was in physical
pain coupled with the trauma of being bed ridden. She looked at me and told me
how she wants to be home because there is no one taking care of her children
and grand children; her garden needs weeding and part of the land needs to be
prepared for the next season of planting; her home needs an adult. She had so
much running through her mind, and I only imagined when her healing would come
through.
Humanity is at the brink of extinction, so many health
challenges surrounding us. Look at diabetes for eg, every 6 seconds someone
dies from it from across the world. Over 600,000 people in Uganda currently
live with it. Over 400m people are estimated to live with it world over as
opposed to 30m in 1985, and this number is expected to double in less than 10
years from now. Look around you, everyone you see including yourself is a
potential candidate to this monstrous disease. It comes in the most unpredicted
way; frequent urination, excessive thirst, fatigue, weight loss; who ever
thought excessive thirst, or urinating frequently could mean you are getting closer
to your grave? The good news is we can avoid becoming victims and if you are unfortunate to have the non
preventive type 1 diabetes, there are ways to avoid an early grave and you will
live through your life and see your grandchildren. All you need is knowledge
and support and you will maneuver through this disease; just from sight no one
would ever imagine you live with such an aggressive monster every single day.
Look at Nick Jonas of the Jonas brothers; now 27 yrs old, diagnosed at age 13
yrs, he has beaten all odds and graces our television screens. There are so many
warriors out there like him
What you should remember though is that this disease will eat
you up very slowly and painfully; it will rob you off your limbs, eyes, heart,
kidneys, you lose sense of feeling on your hands and feet, your marriage breaks
up, your family sidelines you as a burden, loneliness kicks, and the depression
will rush you through life and all will go black for you forever. No one
deserves to die prematurely, remember this could be you, your child, spouse,
parents, relatives, friends or strangers. All you need to do is learn the signs
and symptoms, follow management rules, and you will see the sunset of your
life!
Those already living with the monster need your love and
support; talk to them, help them guide their meals, remind them to take their
medication, go with them to doctor visits, donate to initiatives supporting
them so they may never lack their basic necessities like RBS strips,
glucometers, insulin, syringes among others. Show them humility; that little
you do makes a big change in their lives and the lost hope is flickered
back. Before we know it, this looming
epidemic, diabetes will be history
As our world rapidly grows, can you sit back and not get lost
in the moment of technology, I love playing video games, so do children and our
brothers, the ladies are lost in soaps, Nigerian movies, browsing fashion
magazine; so many white collar jobs that have tempting fat salaries, would you
honestly say no to that? So we sit all day doing these things that give us
pleasure while some of us sit at our desks all day long because we want to
drive those posh cars, live in those mansions in really cool neighbourhoods. We
have labeled our traditional foods local. What happened to children running
around in the fields, us walking to work, to school, eating foods from our gardens?
When we are physically inactive, type2 diabetes looms heavily over us; and
those already living with the monster find it almost impossible to manage it
We have an organisation here in Gulu called Support the
Diabetics Organisation (SUTEDO), the one hosting you tonight whose mission is
to arm all Ugandans; young and old, rich and poor in the battle against
diabetes with a vision of reduced diabetes prevalence. We address the
challenges around diabetes
Had my daughter, Janae been misdiagnosed again that day, I
wouldn’t be holding her anymore in my arms. Just like me, I know you don’t want
to be among the people dying every 6 seconds.
Keep away from type2 diabetes, all it takes is just 30
minutes every day to jump rope, take a walk to and from work, play soccer, take
the stairs instead of the lift, run around the compound with your children;
perform those house chores. Activate those muscles for just 30 minutes; 30
minutes every day is all it takes, you lose nothing and do not forget to eat
those vegetable and yams from your back yard if possible; as you watch out for
any possible signs of diabetes.
For type one diabetes, stay physically active and eat
healthy, make vegetables and low carbohydrates foods your best friend, we can
thrive through the monster
Jointly we can change the course of diabetes! Join the
diabetes arena today and let’s fight it together! Diabetes cannot define our
destiny
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