GDM Dissemination Workshop

The MWAN Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) webinar and end of project dissemination held on July 31st virtually on the zoom platform with over 220 participants made up of Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists, Laboratory Scientists, NGOs and Policy Makers.

The meeting started off with an opening remark by the National President, Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN). The presentations kicked off with the National Co-ordinator, Non-communicable diseases, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Nnenna Ezeigwe, who gave the National policy landscape on non-communicable diseases and how all 5 of them including diabetes were caused by the same 5 risk factors which are preventable.
Prof Jean Claude Mbanya from the University of Yaounde and Head of the Project steering Committee gave the keynote Address: The diabetes conundrum in Africa: what do the numbers tell us? The numbers showed that Africa is still far from achieving the optimal target of diabetes care for patients which can lead to diverse morbidities and mortality.
The Project Co-ordinator Professor Rosemary Ogu gave an overview of the project. In February 2017, MWAN Rivers State Branch, in partnership with the World Diabetes Foundation, commenced a three-year project aimed at implementing access and advocacy interventions for the control of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) through GDM prevention and care in 42 communities in five Local Government Areas (LGAs), selected from the three senatorial districts in Rivers State. A total of 30 health facilities were empowered for the implementation of GDM prevention and care. This included 15 public (10 primary, 3 secondary and 2 tertiary) and 15 private health facilities (11 primary and 4 secondary).
This was closely followed by the presentation of project outcomes, findings from baseline and end of project surveys by Dr. Omosivie Maduka. 22,202 Pregnant women screened for GDM out of which 1310 GDM cases were diagnosed (prevalence of 5.9%). These cases were referred and linked to care. 85,000 information flyers distributed and 4 community town hall meetings and door to door Inter-personal communications were held for sensitization. 360 public & private healthcare providers (HCPs) trained. 306 OBGYN and Specialist staff trained through 4 trainings organized for Tertiary HCPs. Various stakeholder meetings were held, scientific presentations of findings from the project have been done and published. 720 Mass media jingles were aired with over 60 broadcasts on TV/Radio/Newspaper.
The case for sustainability and scale-up of Universal screening for GDM was presented by Dame (Dr.) Claribel Abam, the Project Adviser and she extracted commitments from key stakeholders present such as Dr. Agiriye Harry, Permanent Secretary Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board (RSPHCMB), Dr. F. E. Aaron, Chief Medical Director, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), Dr. Obelebra Adebiyi, Chairman NMA Rivers, Dr Sunny Chinenye, Past National President, Diabetes Association of Nigeria and Dr. Golden Owhonda, Director, Public Health, Rivers State Ministry of Health.
The MWAN/WDF GDM Project findings was officially presented to Her Excellency the Wife of the Governor, Rivers State, Justice Eberechi Suzette Nyesome Wike and other stakeholders virtually by the MWAN President, Dr. Vetty Agala.
Goodwill messages from the Dr Akali, the National Chairman Diabetes Association of Nigeria (DAN) and Her Excellency, Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Dame Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo were also taken.