should accommodate
people living with diabetes
By Innocent Mphongolo:
An expert in diagnosis and treatment of hormonal conditions such as diabetes has called for targeted investment in diabetes care.
Melanie Moyo, an endocrinologist from Kamuzu University of Health Science (Kuhes), made the appeal during the commemoration of World Diabetes Day 2025.
The event, held Friday at Kuhes in Blantyre, ran under the theme ‘Diabetes and the workplace: Know more and do more for Diabetes at work’
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Moyo, who also works at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, said about one million Malawians are living with the disease, with 70 percent of them of working age.
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She emphasized the urgent need to engage employers and workers to address the growing burden of what she described as a critical public health problem.
“From studies conducted, at any point in time, about 30 to 40 percent of people admitted to the hospital have diabetes. They may have been admitted for other reasons, but the condition is present,” she said.
She further advocated for improvements in diabetes care, increased investment in the field, and better support for the well-being of those living with the condition.
“We are calling for workplaces that accommodate people living with diabetes so that individuals do not have to choose between their health and their livelihood. They should be able to earn a decent income while also managing their health effectively,” Moyo added.
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Echoing this sentiment, President of the Diabetes Association of Malawi, Clement Mandala, said people with diabetes face significant challenges in the workplace, as they require special diets and close medical monitoring.
Mandala noted that due to a lack of supportive working environments, some people with diabetes risk their health to keep their jobs.
He also pointed out that some employers do not grant workers time off to attend diabetes clinics.
“The situation is difficult for employees. We often face drug shortages at hospitals, leading to long waiting times that complicate the lives of working people,” Mandala said.
He urged the Ministry of Health to ensure the consistent availability of drugs and to introduce mobile clinics to alleviate
these challenges.
Shubert Zgambo Lungulera, Regional Occupational Health and Safety Officer for the southern region, said that the government has measures in place to protect workers’ rights.
He highlighted the development of a National Occupational Safety and Health Policy as a key step.
Currently, undiagnosed diabetes cases in Malawi are estimated to affect about 58 percent of the adult population
