IThe Ministry of Health (MoH) has launched an initiative to stem the rising prevalence of diabetes among children and teenagers in Accra yesterday.
The “Kids and Diabetes in Schools (KiDS) Programme” is a key component of a broader Affordable Access to Diabetes Care (AADC) programme.
To support the implementation, a French pharmaceutical company operating in the country, Sanofi Ghana, has donated essential teaching materials to the MOH for onward distribution to the Ghana Education Service (GES) to facilitate awareness creation on several issues, including obesity, dieting, diabetes, and general wellness.
At the launch, the Director of Technical Coordination at the MoH, Dr Hafez Adam-Taher, said the initiative “is not just a health initiative but an intervention in Ghana’s future, serving as a catalyst for equipping schools, teachers and students with the knowledge and tools to prevent diabetes, support those living with it and reduce stigma through inclusive and informed learning”.
He said the educational materials had been reviewed by experts from the MoH, GES, Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, and the Diabetes Endocrine and Metabolic Society of Ghana to ensure they were accurate, culturally relevant and impactful.
Additionally, he said, a workshop for teachers from selected schools in the Greater Accra Region would be organised to facilitate the use of the materials and ensure seamless integration into the curriculum.
Importance
The Director for Allied Health, MoH, Dr Ignatius Awinibuno, on behalf of the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, said the programme was a collective resolve to take action against diabetes and safeguard the health of children in the country.
He said the programme stood on three pillars, including support for children living with type one diabetes to enable them to manage their condition; reducing stigma and discrimination; and preventing type two diabetes by encouraging healthy diet, physical activity, and positive lifestyle choices among the children.
Dr Awinibuno further explained that the initiative would begin in 13 selected public schools across the country; however, efforts were being made to expand the programme nationwide.
He urged all stakeholders, including parents and students, to embrace the initiative to help empower children living with diabetes to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.
Benefits
The Director of School Health Education Programme (SHEP), Theresa Oppong Mensah, expressed excitement about the programme, saying its role addressed the gap of lack of awareness, education and support for children with or at risk of diabetes in schools.
She said the materials being launched would provide more than 7,000 children, teachers and parents with age-appropriate and life-saving information about diabetes, “What it is, how to prevent it, how to support children living with it.”
Mrs Mensah expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Health, Sanofi and all partners for the opportunity.
Commitment
The Medical Director at Sanofi SSA, Dr Ardilles Adopo, emphasised Sanofi’s commitment to ensuring that no child or adult has their life defined or limited by diabetes.
He added that their purpose was to ensure every person living with diabetes had a chance to live a full, healthy and vibrant life.
“This belief drives their partnership with Uganda’s Ministry of Health and fuels their commitment to the Ancestor Diabetes Project,” he said.
