Parading in Arua, Uganda

Arua is a sizeable town in the North Western corner of Uganda with its own airport, referral hospital and 53,000 inhabitants. For the third year in a row, Arua will be celebrating World Diabetes Day on Saturday 14 November. This year, the organisers expect more than the usual 2,000 participants because it is on a Saturday.

The Arua Global Diabetes Walk will take place in the adjacent village Omugo where school bands will be leading the parade and attract the attention of the entire community. They will end at the health centre where the function will take place. Songs, poems and riddles about diabetes will be recited and dramas will be performed. People can also be screened for diabetes if they feel at risk or want to know their status.  

“We will be inviting prominent guests and hopefully, local politicians will join and show their support for diabetes in our local community,” says Walk coordinator Ms. Agnes Joyo. “We organise the Global Diabetes Walk to raise awareness in our local communities that diabetes is a silent killer, and we want people to know about the disease and the risk factors,” she explains.

The Arua Global Diabetes Walk will be organised by the Arua Diabetes Association in collaboration with the local Rotary and Lions Clubs. All the local diabetes patients and health staff are involved in the preparation of the day.

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