Times Of Swaziland: DIABETES FOUNDATION LAUNCH A SUCCESS

DIABETES FOUNDATION LAUNCH A SUCCESS
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BY PHOLSILE HLOPHE on 08/11/2019 00:49:00


EZULWINI – The Bruce Gama Diabetes with Sports Foundation was officially
launched yesterday at the MTN Golf Course.
The launch was also graced by the presence of Eswatini Tennis Association
President Maxwell Jele, Swaziland Building Society’s Marketing Manager Veli
Dlamini, Emfuleni Lifestyle’s Managing Director Sifiso ‘Daladi’ Dlamini,
representatives of Diabetes Swaziland and supporters of the foundation.
Eswatini’s tennis player, Bruce Gama, who is the founder of the foundation,
thanked everyone in support of his vision to educate the nation about diabetes.
Gama is a living testimony that diabetes, though dubbed chronic, was a
manageable condition, given that people are empowered with the knowledge of how
to control it through healthy living.
The national tennis icon shared an emotional testimony of how he was diagnosed
with diabetes at the peak of his tennis career in a semi-final game in Lesotho
after collapsing during action.
He highlighted the challenges he faced and how it took him 12 years to openly
disclose that he was living with Type 2 diabetes. Through regular exercise,
healthy eating and following the doctor’s advice, he lives a normal life.
stigma
“The biggest challenge faced by diabetics is the stigma surrounding this
condition. Most people lack the proper knowledge about diabetes and that is how 
a lot of families have lost loved ones because they do not know how to handle
diabetics in case of an episode.
“My purpose is to share the information I have gained through my journey in
the years I have lived with the condition and that is through staying active and
eating healthy food that helps to control it”, said Gama.
The Bruce Gama Diabetes with Sports Foundation is a registered non-profit
organisation with a vision of seeing diabetes as an openly understood condition
through bringing awareness to the nation about the challenges of living with
diabetes through advocating for healthy and active living.
On behalf of Diabetes Swaziland Director Dumisile Mavuso, Thembeka Gamedze said
the organisation was looking forward to collaborate with the foundation in using
sports as a vehicle to fight the condition through education the nation.
“Our duty as an organisation is to sensitize the nation about diabetes and
with the help of the Ministry of Health, we have managed to reach even vast
rural communities. We are looking forward to working with the Bruce Gama
Diabetes with Sports Foundation,” said Gamedze.
congratulated
Eswatini Tennis Association president congratulated Gama for taking the
initiative to advocate the awareness about diabetes and pledged to support him
in his endeavor.
The president further called upon companies and corporate sectors to show their
support to the organisation which would change lives.