Zimbabwean men unite to advocate for diabetes care

'We realised it was necessary to form an association. Why? So we could go and motivate our own, which are other men, who live in rural areas,' says Luckson Zanamwe, a member of a diabetes self-support group at Chikombedzi Hospital, Zimbabwe.

Luckson's group was formed as part of the 'Improving access and quality of diabetes care in rural Zimbabwe' project, funded by WDF.

This three-year initiative aims to decentralise standardised diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients with diabetes to the primary level within three districts in Masvingo Province. The project also focuses on rolling out a comprehensive training package for healthcare workers, enhancing patient health literacy and community awareness on healthy lifestyle and disease prevention, and improving stakeholder coordination and NCD advocacy.

In Zimbabwe, where nearly 40% of the population lives on less than $2.15 a day, significant health issues persist, especially in managing NCDs. According to the World Health Organisation, NCDs account for 31% of total deaths in the country. This high mortality rate reflects challenges in early diagnosis and access to effective treatment, particularly for conditions such as diabetes, where many cases remain undetected until complications arise. 

Men are particularly underrepresented in healthcare management, often due to their role as primary earners. Their work responsibilities often leave them with little time for health facility visits. This issue is more pronounced in rural areas where illness is often viewed as a sign of weakness, leading many men to hide their symptoms to maintain an image of strength, thereby delaying crucial care.