By Hanad Abdi - Reporter
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MOGADISHU, 11 November 2026 Somalia's Ministries of Health and Youth and Sports on Wednesday held an awareness walk in Mogadishu to encourage diabetes prevention and early detection, as part of the country's 2026 World Diabetes Day campaign.
The walk, held under the theme "Early Action on Diabetes," comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that diabetes and related kidney diseases claimed approximately 2.4 million lives worldwide in 2023.
Somalia's Minister of Health, Ali Haji, urged the public to maintain regular physical activity, recommending that people under the age of 60 walk 10,000 steps daily, while those over 60 aim for 6,000 steps.
"People under the age of 60 are expected to walk 10,000 steps a day, while those over 60 should walk 6,000 steps daily," the minister said.
The Ministry of Health said the nationwide campaign, running from 9 to 15 November, includes health walks, public awareness activities, diabetes screenings and training programmes for healthcare workers.
According to WHO, nearly 10% of deaths from cardiovascular diseases in 2023 were linked to high blood glucose levels, highlighting the serious health risks associated with diabetes.
World Diabetes Day, observed annually on 14 November, aims to raise public awareness of the disease, promote early screening and improve access to healthcare services for people living with diabetes.