Diabetes At Sea: How 15 Million Nigerians Including Apapa Dockworkers, Seafarers, Kano Truck Drivers Struggle For Insulin — EMSON Cries Out From Abuja.

By Okwo Romeon — Abuja | Nigeria Anchorage | Humanitarian.

Behind every diabetes statistic is a dockworker at Apapa who can't afford insulin, a seafarer at Lagos Anchorage who skips glucose checks, and a truck driver moving containers from Apapa to Kano who faints on the road.

That was the message from the Endocrine and Metabolism Society of Nigeria (EMSON) at its 47th AGM in Abuja, Sept 23-25, 2026.

Chairperson of the Opening Ceremony of the 47th EMSON AGMSC Dr Adedolapo Fasawe and the EMSON President Prof Andrew E Uloko.

The Numbers — Maritime Workers Hit Hard

EMSON President Prof. Andrew Uloko said 6-7% of Nigerians — about 15 million people  — have diabetes, many undiagnosed. In maritime, the burden is heavier:

Apapa dockworkers:  12-hour shifts, energy drinks, no routine screening — Many discover diabetes after leg ulcer, amputation

Seafarers at Lagos Anchorage:  Months at sea, no specialist, limited insulin storage on vessels — One diabetic rating told EMSON: "I hide my condition to keep my job"

Truck drivers Apapa to Kano/Jos  Diabetes causes blurred vision, fatigue — Causes accidents on Abuja-Kaduna road — No emergency care on Baro road

Uloko: _"Behind every statistic is a human being. Diabetes interferes with education, employment, and places financial pressure on families."_

Human Story — The Apapa Example:

A 42-year-old tally clerk at Tin Can (name withheld) was diagnosed in 2024. Needs insulin N35k/month, glucose strips N18k, lab tests N25k quarterly. Salary N90k. He now chooses between medicine and children's school fees. No NHIS cover for endocrine at port clinic.

This is the reality for *500+ maritime workers* EMSON says it sees annually at Lagos, Port Harcourt teaching hospitals.

What EMSON Wants — That Matters for NPA, NIMASA, Truck Transit Parks

1. Affordable medicines:  Insulin, metformin at port clinics — NPA should stock at Apapa, Onne medical centres

2. Glucose monitoring: Free screening for dockworkers, seafarers during pre-boarding medicals — NIMASA should add HbA1c to seafarer certificate

3. Specialist care:  Endocrinologist at Apapa, not just Garki Abuja — Northern drivers need specialist at Dala Dry Port Kano, Jos truck 

The EMSON President presenting an award of honour to Prof IAO UJAH oon, mni as a guest speaker at the 47th EMSON AGMSC Abuja 2026.

4. Patient education: Diabetes self-management for truck drivers — What to eat on long haul Kano to Apapa, how to store insulin in truck

Beyond Diabetes — Obesity, Hypertension Killing Maritime Productivity

Uloko said endocrine burden includes thyroid disease, obesity complications, PCOS, osteoporosis — All linked to sedentary port office jobs, fatty foods at truck stops. These cause *cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, blindness, amputations* — Means *loss of trained dockworkers, seafarers, drivers* — Direct hit on Nigeria's human capital and port productivity.

Investment in endocrine health is investment in Nigeria's human capital,"_ Uloko said.

Challenges EMSON Raised — Same as Maritime:

 Brain drain: Endocrinologists leaving for UK — Same as marine engineers leaving NIMASA

Declining trainees — Few doctors want endocrine — Same as few cadets want sea time

 No research funding — No data on diabetes among seafarers at Lagos Anchorage

No secretariat building — EMSON operates from teaching hospitals

What EMSON Did at Abuja Conference:

 Theme: "Endocrine Practice: Improving Patient Care Through Advocacy"

 4 sub-themes: New diabetes drugs, translating science to care, pediatric endocrine (children of dockworkers), lifestyle medicine (diet/exercise vs drugs)

 Dagogo-Jack Memorial Lecture by Prof. Chioma Unachukwu, Uniport

 FEMSON awards to new fellows

 Elections for new leaders, strengthening 7 zonal chapters

For Maritime Families in Abuja, Jos, Kano:

If you are a truck driver, clearing agent, or seafarer family member with diabetes — EMSON advises:

 Go for screening at Federal Medical Centre Jabi Abuja, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital

 Ask for insulin at NHIS — New 2026 coverage includes diabetes monitoring

 Join structured self-management — EMSON runs patient education at its chapters

NPA, NIMASA, Truck Owners should partner with EMSON, Federal Ministry of Health to screen 10,000 maritime workers by 2027 — Saves lives, saves cargo.

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