Lions Club has reeled out plans to screen and test about 13,000 Nigerians nationwide today, Monday, November 15, 2021.

News Express learnt that the free screening will take place in all general hospitals in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. It could not be imediately confirmed if the same applies nationwide or if different venues would be used in other parts of the country.

The free screening is part of activities to mark the 2021 World Diabetes Day commemorated every November 14 to raise awareness about the growing burden of the disease and strategies to prevent and treat it.

The Abuja Metropolitan Lions Club District Governor (District 404A2), Lion Lynda Odu-Okpeseyi, stated this in Abuja on Saturday, during an awareness walk to sensitise the public on the disease.

She called on people to screen and know their status for diabetes in order to know how to handle it.

"When they check and find they have diabetes, they can start treating it. But you may not know because there are different kinds of kidney failure and all that, even blindness that prevents a number of people from seeing it. Our target by Monday is to screen 13,000 people nationwide," she said.

Also speaking, a member of diabetes committee advised Nigerians to ensure that they get tested and know their status.

"I, as a person, I have been diagnosed as having diabetes since 2002. And because I knew my status from that day, I still live healthy. And you see me now if I don't tell you I have diabetes, you will not know," he said.

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