DoSH vows to contain child diabetes

The secretary of state for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Malick Njie, has said that his department of state is doing everything to ensure that no child die of diabetes in this country.

SoS Njie was speaking yesterday at a press briefing organised by the department of state for Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO).

It was held at the DOSH conference Hall in Banjul, ahead of the activities marking this year’s "World Diabetes Day" slated for Friday 14th November 2008, at the July 22 Square in Banjul. The theme for this year’s celebrations is "Diabetes in Children and Adolescents".

According to him, diabetes can affect children at any age, even toddlers and babies. He said his department of state wuld continue to play leadership role in the prevention of communicable and none communicable diseases in the country. "We are closely working with WHO, the Gambia Diabetes Association and other international organisations to support our endeavours. DOSH has identified a national body task with the responsibility for the control of diabetes in the country," he said.

He noted that over the years, they have been working with the National Nutrition Agency (NaNa), MRC and others, adding that with the support of their IEC unit, they have embarked on many sensitisation programmes on the mass media.

He challenged the media fraternity to continue their mass sensitisation of people about diabetes, disclosing that DOSH was ready to organise a series of workshops for journalists on diabetes and other related diseases. Dr Alieu Gaye, the president of the Gambia Diabetes Association, who also doubles as the chairman of the International Diabetes Federation for Africa region, said the greater prevalence of diabetes in The Gambia is found within the Greater Banjul Area.

According to him, they also intend to embark on more sensitisation programmes across the country. "One important group who develop diabetes are pregnant women, as 30% of pregnant women globally develop diabetes," he said. For his part, Dr Thomas Sukwa, World Health Organisation (WHO) representative in The Gambia, said the media plays a crucial role in creating mass sensitisation by providing airtime or space for interviews with experts in the field of diabetes.

"There is need to engage health and policy makers to change in support of diabetes through the power of their pens and the microphones. Promote and increase public awareness on the risk factors of disease," he urged the media practitioners. Other speakers at the ceremony included Salieu John of the Diabetes Association.