Africa-Press – Mauritius. A Diabetes and Vascular Centre, designed to provide specialised care and treatment for patients living with diabetes and vascular conditions, was inaugurated, today, in the presence of the Minister of Health and Wellness, Mr Anil Kumar Bachoo, at the Dr AG Jeetoo Hospital in Port Louis. The Minister of Land Transport, Mr Osman Mahomed, and the Regional Health Director, Dr Tanooja Hemoo, were also present on the occasion.
In his keynote address, Minister Bachoo stated that the establishment of a dedicated Diabetes Centre, outlined in Budget 2025–2026, forms part of Government’s strategy to strengthen specialised healthcare services and intensify efforts to combat non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The Centre will deliver integrated, patient-centred care, enabling earlier detection, improved follow-up, coordinated treatment and better health outcomes in the management of diabetes and vascular diseases.
The Minister recalled that Government has announced the setting up of five Diabetes Centres nationwide on a phased basis. This initiative, he said, reflects a strategic shift in the national healthcare framework — moving from managing complications to preventing disease, from fragmented care to integrated services, and from late intervention to early detection.
Minister Bachoo further highlighted that an International Advisory Committee, set up under the aegis of the Ministry, has submitted 21 key recommendations to enhance diabetes care and reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases across the country.
For his part, Minister Mahomed emphasised that the Centre will operate as a “one-stop” facility, offering comprehensive and coordinated care under one roof. He expressed confidence that it will improve patients’ quality of life, reduce long-term complications and help ease the financial burden on the public healthcare system.
Dr Hemoo drew attention to the high prevalence of diabetes in Mauritius, noting that around 20% of the population aged 25 to 74 years are living with diabetes, while a further 16% of adults are prediabetic. She stressed that early detection and prevention are essential to effective NCD management, underscoring the importance of establishing specialised centres dedicated to diabetes care.
