About 2.6 million Ghanaians are living with the diabetes disease.

Mrs Elizabeth Esi Denyoh, the President of the National Diabetes Association, said 10 per cent of the urban and 8 per cent of the rural population were suffering from the disease.

Mrs Denyoh said this during the launch of Merck's Diabetes Online Risk Assessment (DORA) in Accra.

DORA, is an online platform, which enables individuals to confirm their status with a free blood sugar test at the pharmacy of their choice.

She commended Merck for the initiative to create awareness on the disease.

Dr Kai Beckmann, a Member of the Executive Board, Merck, said 12 million Africans have diabetes and the number was expected to double by 2025.

He said Ghana was one of the strategic countries on the African continent, where the company invests in healthcare delivery.

"Ghana is the second country in the world, where the initiative is being launched," he added.

Mr Patrick Amponsah-Frempah, the Product Manager, Merck Ghana, explaining the platform, said the initiative, which is also being rolled out in Kenya, would increase awareness of the disease and referrals to local healthcare professionals in Ghana.

He said about 73 per cent of people living with the disease are un-diagnosed, advising individual to exercise regularly, eat healthy diets and avoid unnecessary stress.

He said DORA is available on www.diabetes.merck-africa.com.