By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna

The National Association of Sea Dogs, popularly known as the Pyrates Confraternity, has taken free diabetes screening and awareness to Narayi community in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, screening over 200 residents.

The exercise, organised by the association’s Aurora Flotilla Deck, Kaduna Branch, to mark the 2026 World Diabetes Day, was aimed at identifying people at risk of the disease, particularly those who rarely access routine health checks.

Speaking during the outreach on Saturday, Dr Ephraim Asuquo, the medical personnel in charge, warned that undetected or poorly managed diabetes could lead to kidney failure, heart disease, stroke, blindness and nerve damage.

He identified excessive thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss and burning or prickling sensations in the legs as possible warning signs, urging residents not to wait for symptoms before checking their blood sugar levels.

Asuquo said the screening was designed to identify residents with elevated blood sugar, provide basic health counselling and refer those requiring further assessment to primary healthcare facilities.

He disclosed that more than 40 people had been screened as of the time of the interview, adding that the association deliberately took the exercise to communities where access to healthcare remained limited.

He identified unhealthy diets, excessive consumption of sugary foods and drinks, physical inactivity and overweight as some of the risk factors associated with Type 2 diabetes.

The medical personnel advised residents to exercise regularly, eat balanced meals rich in vegetables and fibre, reduce sugar intake and undergo periodic blood sugar checks.

Also speaking, a former President of the association, Dr Okpara Obinna, described the outreach as part of its annual advocacy to promote preventive healthcare and improve access to basic health services.

Obinna said Narayi was selected because residents had limited access to nearby healthcare facilities, while some could not afford routine medical checks.

He said the association deployed volunteer doctors, pharmacists, nurses and other health professionals to provide screening and guidance, adding that beneficiaries’ contacts were collected for follow-up.

“Diabetes is not a death sentence. It can be managed,” he said, urging residents to take advantage of free screening opportunities and seek medical attention when necessary.

A community leader, Bulus Yusuf, the Mai Angwa of Kufai Narayi, commended the association for bringing the exercise to the community, describing it as an eye-opener on the importance of preventive healthcare.

Yusuf, who said his blood sugar result was normal, called for more outreach programmes and appealed to the organisers to consider returning with medicines and other forms of support.

A 26-year-old resident, Happiness Adams, said her screening showed elevated blood sugar, adding that an earlier test had also indicated a high reading.

She said the exercise had encouraged her to pay closer attention to her diet and attend regular medical check-ups.

Another resident, 58-year-old Musa Girku, said he had not checked his blood sugar for nearly six years before participating in the outreach.

Girku, whose test returned a reading of 6.3, said a medical professional advised him to work towards lowering the level and offered guidance on managing his health.

He expressed appreciation to the association for bringing free screening to the community.

The association said its activities extend beyond health advocacy to humanitarian support, legal assistance and interventions for less privileged members of society.