The Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS) of the University of Ghana, in partnership with the European Commission, has organized a research conference on Obesity and Diabetes among African migrants living in Europe.
The two-day scientific conference, which was held at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, brought together policy makers, researchers, academics and scientists to highlight and discuss the key findings from the RODAM study and to develop lasting solutions to the emergent weight-sugar problem.
In a welcome speech, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Ernest Aryeetey, commended the RODAM Consortium for the pioneering study. He noted that RODAM, which stands for “Research on Obesity and Diabetes among African Migrants,” offered African universities the prospect to engage more in research works. Professor Aryeetey also acknowledged the University’s readiness to expand infrastructure and introduce more research-based courses.
Addressing the audience, the foreign-based research-fellows took turns to point out the growing burden of obesity and diabetes and its related complications among African migrants in Europe and in Africa. The study revealed that African migrants in high-income countries are particularly affected and tend to have higher morbidity and mortality from diabetes compared with White counterparts. A focus-study on Ghanaians living in three European cities- Amsterdam, Berlin and London showed rising levels of obesity and diabetes. Experts said the trend was necessitated by rapid lifestyle and dietary changes, genetic predisposition, psychosocial stress as well as cultural perceptions and practices. This has therefore posed major public health and clinical burdens in sub-Saharan Africa.
Professor Andre Pascal Kengne, an Associate Professor at the Department of Medicine of the University of Cape Town, South Africa and a specialist on the Epidemiology of diabetes in Africa, called on African governments to, as a matter of urgency, institute pragmatic measures to curb the epidemic of diabetes on the continent. He also expressed disapproval on the common practice among Africans to seek healthcare only when situation becomes worse. This poor attitude attached to treatment he added, has been the reason for loss of lives over the years.
Although Africans in Europe and their compatriots in Africa are prone to obesity and diabetes, researchers are however hopeful that intensive sensitization of patients and the general public would help in both the short and long terms to reverse the situation.
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