Ukrainian Health Minister Raisa Bohaturova has called for more efforts to fight the disease that affects more than a million Ukrainians on World Diabetes Day, which falls on Wednesday, according to Xinhua.
"Diabetes today is one of the most serious health and social problems," Bohaturova said at a briefing, adding 1.25 million Ukrainians now live with the illness.
The government, Bohaturova said, was concerned about the rising incidences of the disease and had allocated 65 million U.S. dollars in 2012 for preventive measures and life-saving treatment.
Ukrainians also needed to be more aware of the preventive measures so as to curb its morbidity, the health minister said.
Ukraine had an extensive network of agencies that provided assistance to people with diabetes, such as research institutes, endocrinology clinics and surgeries at outpatient clinics, Bohaturova said.
World Diabetes Day, which is observed on Nov. 14 each year, aims to raise global awareness of diabetes and demonstrate the solidarity of diabetes patients worldwide.
