Algeria Marks World Diabetes Day with Early Detection Drive

Algeria's Health Ministry has kicked off a nationwide campaign to promote early detection and treatment of diabetes, as part of World Diabetes Day celebrations. The campaign, themed "Act Early Against Diabetes," aims to mobilize the national health network to reach at-risk populations, including those in remote areas. The ministry has identified three key areas of focus: primary prevention, early detection and diagnosis, and therapeutic care.

The ministry has called on health and population directors to coordinate actions around these three priorities. Primary prevention involves reducing modifiable risk factors such as obesity, overweight, sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy eating habits, and smoking. The ministry has also emphasized the importance of targeted screening to identify unknown and silent cases before complications arise.

On the ground, public health authorities are tasked with mobilizing the primary healthcare network, including polyclinics and health centers, to organize open days for glycemic control. Screening will prioritize people over 35 years old, those with excess weight or obesity, hypertensive individuals, and those with a family history of diabetes. Women who have experienced gestational diabetes are also targeted.

The campaign will also extend beyond healthcare facilities, with mobile units deployed to remote and hard-to-reach areas. Workplaces and areas frequented by young people are also on the agenda, with awareness and blood glucose testing points set up in public administrations, universities, vocational training centers, and companies with high staff concentrations.

The campaign aims to raise awareness about key alarm symptoms, including frequent urination, excessive thirst, chronic fatigue, and unexplained weight loss. Health officials have been instructed to promote the slogan "Act Early Against Diabetes" on various communication channels to encourage people with these symptoms to seek medical attention promptly.

As part of health education, interactive workshops will promote healthy and balanced eating, low in refined sugars, saturated fats, and salt, as well as regular physical activity. Newly diagnosed patients will receive orientation and listening sessions, involving their families if necessary, to encourage immediate adherence to medical recommendations.

Ensuring continuity of care, a directive has been issued to ensure that individuals with positive screening results are quickly referred to their assigned healthcare facility for necessary analysis and follow-up. Local authorities are also called upon to anticipate the material needs of healthcare facilities, including glucose readers, test strips, and laboratory reagents.

Key points

• The Algerian Health Ministry aims to strengthen the entire intervention chain, from prevention to therapeutic accompaniment, by making early diagnosis a determining element in the national prevention policy.