Splenda Ghana, an importer of Splenda Zero Calories and Splenda Stevia Sweetener has promised to continue to contribute to efforts aimed at reducing the incidence of diabetes in Ghana. 

The Managing Director of Splenda Ghana, Maabena Webb, who pledged, decried the alarming rise in diabetes cases which she indicated can be curtailed through awareness creation, education and behavioural change. 

Mrs. Webb who is also a member of the Blue Circle Voices Network, an International Diabetes Federation (IDF) advocacy group, made this pledge during a series of donation exercises by her company to commemorate World Diabetes Day 2024. 

According to her, diabetes is a chronic disease that has a lasting effect on the human body by weakening all its organs.

“It is characterised by high levels of blood glucose (or blood sugar) with symptoms such as feeling very thirsty, frequent urination, blurred vision, feeling tired and losing weight unintentionally”. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes diabetes as a major disease that leads to serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves.

Research indicates that diabetes remains one of the major global health challenges in developing countries like Ghana. 

WHO, further states that 24 million adults are living with diabetes in Africa, and the number is expected to rise by 129% to 55 million by 2045.

It is also noted to be among the leading non-communicable diseases causing about 45% of deaths in Africa.

Analyzing all these means there is a need for government, institutions, organisations, local groups and individuals to take action in curbing the rise of diabetes in Africa, especially Ghana. 

November 14, every year is World Diabetes Day (WDD), a day established by WHO and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in 1991 in response to growing concerns about the worldwide escalating health threat posed by diabetes. WDD became an official United Nations Day in 2006.

It is the world’s largest diabetes awareness campaign reaching a global audience of over 1 billion people in more than 160 countries. (worlddiabetesday.org) including Ghana. 

This year, Splenda Ghana joined other organizations globally to commemorate World Diabetes Day 2024. As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to promote healthy living the company organised several activities to raise awareness, and educate the public about diabetes. 

Focused on the theme ‘Diabetes and Well Being’ the company donated some of its products, (Splenda Sweeteners) worth thousands of Ghana Cedis to 10 selected diabetic health facilities in the Eastern and Greater Accra regions. This is the second time Splenda Ghana is donating its products to support the fight against diabetes. 

The facilities include the Eastern Regional Hospital, ⁠SDA Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital in Koforidua, Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital in Mampong, and the Community Hospital in Kukurantumi.

In Greater Accra, the company donated to Mamprobi Hospital, Lapaz Community Hospital, Kaneshie Polyclinic, Maamobi General Hospital, and Ashaiman Polyclinic. 

Apart from the donation exercise the company also organized a float through the major towns of Accra and Eastern region to raise awareness about diabetes and also educate the public about healthy living.

The company further partnered with the National Sports for All Association Ghana (NASFAAG) in the Eastern Region to organize a health and peace walk ahead of the 2024 general elections. 

In her interactions with patients present at the health facilities, Mrs Webb advised all to eat healthy foods, engage in regular physical activities and also pay attention to instructions given to them by their healthcare professionals to help them live healthy lives.

She stressed the fact that most people do not pay attention to instructions given by healthcare professionals which could be dangerous in their healthcare. 

“Diabetes is killing us slowly. It affects and destroys all the organs in our bodies. We can only fight this dangerous disease by taking good care of ourselves. Let’s pay attention to what our health professionals instruct us to do and not to do for our good”. 

Receiving the items, representatives of the health facilities expressed their appreciation to Splenda Ghana for the kind gesture.

They pleaded with the company and others in good standing to support the facilities with devices to enhance their services to patients and clients. 

The Splenda Ghana team also paid a visit to the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council where discussions relating to the rise of diabetes in the country, and how best the two groups could partner to fight the rising health issue took place. 

Splenda Ghana was established in November 2020 as a subsidiary of Brighter Purpose Group (BPG) Limited (a renowned business investment and consulting company).

It serves as a channel for BPG to drive its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives in Ghana and Africa