Abuja: A U.K.-based Nigerian podiatrist, Dr. Gerald Agbarakwe, warns that the lack of diabetic foot care specialists in Nigeria is contributing to poor disease management and preventable complications.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr. Agbarakwe explained that podiatry as a profession remains largely undeveloped in Nigeria, impacting the management of diabetic foot disease.
He highlighted that in many high-income healthcare systems, diabetic foot care is delivered by multidisciplinary teams, including podiatrists, diabetologists, vascular surgeons, and specialist nurses, which allows for early detection and rapid intervention. Currently, there are no dedicated schools or nationally established training programs focused on podiatry education in Nigeria, resulting in a limited number of clinicians trained in specialized foot care. Consequently, diabetic foot disease is often managed by general physicians or surgeons only after complications have become severe.
The specialist noted that diabetic foot disease is a growing public health concern in Nigeria, causing preventable disability, hospital admissions, and limb loss among people living with diabetes. He cited research indicating that late presentation remains a key driver of adverse outcomes, with diabetic foot ulcers accounting for roughly one quarter of diabetes-related hospital admissions. The majority of these ulcers are already infected when patients arrive at hospitals, highlighting the urgent need for early detection and intervention.
Dr. Agbarakwe also discussed the societal impact, noting that many affected patients are in economically productive age groups, leading to serious consequences for families due to Nigeria’s limited welfare support. He emphasized that diabetic foot disease is largely preventable if early detection and coordinated care are prioritized within the healthcare system.
He suggested that a key step in addressing this issue is the development of formal podiatry education and training programs in universities or teaching hospitals to train clinicians in preventive foot care, wound management, and early detection. Trained podiatrists could work alongside physicians and surgeons in multidisciplinary diabetic foot teams to improve patient outcomes.
Dr. Agbarakwe emphasized the importance of integrating routine foot screening into primary healthcare services, where most people with diabetes receive care. Early identification of high-risk feet, combined with patient education about daily foot inspection and appropriate footwear, could prevent many ulcers from developing. He also stressed the need for public awareness, noting that many diabetic foot complications start with painless wounds caused by nerve damage, and early treatment could prevent infection or gangrene.