Guinea-Bissau official flags shortages of staff, equipment and medicines
Fodé Caramba Sanhá urged citizens, schools and religious groups to share the work of preventing diabetes.
Fodé Caramba Sanhá, the first vice-president of Guinea-Bissau's National Transition Council (CNT), warned on Friday, November 13, 2026, that the country's health system lacks staff, equipment and medicines, and that many people struggle to reach care.
He made the remarks at the opening of a technical debate on diabetes prevention and control, held at the National People's Assembly ahead of World Diabetes Day on November 14. He called diabetes one of the main public health challenges in the country and said the response needs the state, health workers, families, schools, civil society and religious bodies. "Each citizen must take responsibility for their own health," he said.
Sanhá called for stronger awareness campaigns, healthy eating, regular physical activity, screening and ongoing follow-up for people living with diabetes. He said efforts should focus on vulnerable groups and remote communities far from main health centres.
Why it mattersPeople in remote communities and those with diabetes are the ones who must now rely on screening and follow-up that the shortages put at risk.