The Malta Chamber of Pharmacists is embarking on a health awareness campaign on the occasion of World Diabetes Day, which is celebrated internationally on November 14.
The campaign is being organised with the support of the Maltese Diabetes Association and the Malta Pharmaceutical Students Association. Launched last Thursday at the Palace, Valletta, consultant endocrinologist Stephen Fava focused on raising awareness on diabetes, explaining how its incidence in adulthood can be reduced through changes in lifestyle, the importance of screening and who should be screened.
Malta Chamber of Pharmacists president Mary Ann Sant Fournier gave details about the campaign and explained when, who, how and why people should visit a community pharmacist in various localities in Malta and Gozo between November 12 and 17.
People will be able to identify participating pharmacists through a poster at the pharmacy entrance or through a list of participating pharmacists displayed in public places and on the chamber’s website.
Participating pharmacists will encourage people to be screened for diabetes and to receive advice on health promotion and prevention of diabetes.
The campaign will be run against a €2 donation per patient, with proceeds going to the Malta Community Chest Fund.
Participating pharmacists attended two intensive training seminars last month with the support of consultant endocrinologists from the Diabetes and Endocrine Centre at Mater Dei Hospital as well as other health care professionals in the field. The aim of the seminars was to equip pharmacists with the latest updated knowledge and information on diabetes prevention.
The chamber called on the Government to implement an effective national diabetes plan which is the key to promoting diabetes education and prevention.
Such a plan would raise public awareness on diabetes, promoting the disease on a national level.
A national diabetes plan would promote primary prevention to reduce incidence, ensure early diagnosis, reduce complications and minimise the impact of diabetes on society, besides improving the quality of treatment and care, ensuring this is accessible, community-based and tackled through a patient-centred approach.