The Affordable Access to Diabetes Care (AADC) project has seen the official launch of the Kids and Diabetes in Schools (KiDS) Program by the Ministry of Health (MoH) in partnership with Sanofi.
The goal of this innovative program is to encourage healthy lifestyles and increase diabetes awareness among Ghanaian parents, teachers, and junior high school students.
Ghana’s larger plan to increase access to care in underprivileged areas and prevent diabetes through early education also includes it.
On behalf of the Minister for Health, Dr. Ignatius Awinibuno, Director in charge of Allied Health at the Ministry, gave the keynote lecture. He underlined the pressing need to address the growing number of schoolchildren with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
He listed the three main goals of the program: helping kids with type 1 diabetes take charge of their health; lessening discrimination and stigma in schools, and preventing type 2 diabetes by promoting good eating and lifestyle instruction.
He stated that 13 public schools will be the first to implement the program, with instructional materials tailored to the Ghanaian environment.
After being examined by pertinent government and health organizations, these resources will be included in school curricula through workshops for teacher preparation, starting in the Greater Accra Region.
Dr. Awinibuno declared that the program has been formally turned over to the Ghana Education Service and the Ministry of Education for nationwide implementation, reinforcing the Ministry’s dedication to making sure diabetes education reaches every region of the nation.
Sanofi’s Medical Director, Dr. Ardilles Adopo, emphasized the company’s commitment to helping those with diabetes, especially kids, in his remarks.
He highlighted the important contributions Sanofi has made to the treatment of diabetes in Ghana since 2023, including helping to spread national diabetes guidelines, providing diabetes equipment to four health centers, mentoring 160 general practitioners, and enrolling more than 240 medical professionals in international diabetes education.
He also said that 7,700 children, parents, and teachers will get instruction from Sanofi and the Ministry of Health through the KiDS Program. Furthermore, 35 educators have received training to spearhead school-based initiatives to raise awareness of diabetes.
The Ghana Education Service’s National SHEP Coordinator, Mrs. Theresa Oppong Mensah, expressed enthusiasm for the project, saying it fills a significant knowledge and support gap in schools for kids with or at risk for diabetes.
She underlined the need for cooperation between educators, parents, and other interested parties and the necessity of growing the program across the country while enabling kids to be change agents.
Key players, including directors from the Ghana Education Service, the Ministry of Health, and Sanofi, were present at the event, which was hosted at the Ministry of Health.
Source: newsthemegh.com