Primary prevention of diabetes, Nigeria

Objectives

The diabetes prevalence in Nigeria is 4.87% and is expected to increase (IDF, 2011). Nigeria currently faces a double burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes and communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.

Because of lack of knowledge and poverty people do not relate that their lifestyles have consequences on their long term health. It is also very uncommon for people to go for routine medical check-ups, so many people present very late with long term complications.

The goal of this project is to create awareness, provide health education, and promote healthy behaviour to prevent future type 2 diabetes in children, youth, and their families through sensitisation activities targeted at schools and the general Nigerian population.

Approach

This project will be carried out by the Mark Anumah Medical Missions, with support from the Federal Ministry of Health, Zoomota healthcare, the University of Abuja, and the Diabetes Association of Nigeria.

To increase awareness, school workshops will be held once a month in 20 secondary schools, targeting teachers, caterers, students, and parents. The workshops will provide health education, awareness and sensitisation through cooking demonstrations, physical activity, and group discussions.

The project includes a screening programme that will screen teachers, parents, and students to identify risk factors for diabetes such as obesity (weight BMI and waist circumference), family history, and unhealthy lifestyle etc. Newly diagnosed people with diabetes will be referred to healthcare centres.

Finally, health clubs will be established in these secondary schools.

Print media and radio jingles will be used to raise awareness among the general Nigerian population. Radio jingles on healthy eating habits will be run twice a month for the duration of the project.

Results at completion

• 915 heads of secondary schools, teachers sensitized and built capacity in regards to physical activity, nutrition, making healthy choices and on the relationship between overweight, obesity and diabetes.
• Workshops conducted for 2997 secondary school students and provided information materials on diet, physical activity, obesity, diabetes and other lifestyle diseases.
• 24,000 parents made aware and empowered about making healthy choices and the importance of healthful behaviour changes.
• 3,912 teachers and students screened for risk factors for diabetes using anthropometric indices and family history of diabetes.
• 818 had fasting blood sugars checked.
• 20 school gardens established
• 16 surveys on healthy living conducted
• Public awareness conducted: 24 radio jingles, 4 articles on the association between diabetes/NCDs and lifestyles, 6 TV interviews