Novo Nordisk partner GHS to defeat diabetes in Ghana

The Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service, in collaboration with Novo Nordisk, have launched the Changing Diabetes in Children (CDiC) and the Insulin for Seniors programme, which aims to raise awareness of diabetes.

This is the latest intervention by Novo Nordisk in Africa under the global defeat diabetes campaign.

Speaking at the launch of the initiative, the Deputy Head of Mission – Brigit la Cour Madsen said the two initiatives have the potential to “make a real difference in the lives of many diabetes patients in Ghana.”

She said the Changing Diabetes in Children initiative “holds the potential to become a game-changer in managing Type-1 diabetes in children” in the country.

“We all know that if left untreated, diabetes can result in severe complications. Early detection and treatment is therefore key. Presently awareness level among Ghanaian parents is very low and the programme will seek to address that and equip health facilities with the skills required to make early diagnosis and improve lives.”

iCARE was rolled out against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic which highlights the need to combat diseases such as diabetes, as people living with the disease are among the groups at most risk of complications if they get coronavirus.

As part of the defeat diabetes strategy, Novo Nordisk aims to reach 100,000 children globally by 2030.

In Ghana, the CDiC programme aims to improve the delivery of diabetes care to children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in resource-poor settings, working with 17 hospitals to reach 1500 children in a 5-year timeframe.

The insulin for Senior programme has a similar objective to provide holistic diabetes care and safeguard insulin access for seniors from the age of 60, working with 21 hospitals to reach 4000 elderly people with diabetes in a period of three years.

The iCARE initiative intends accelerating access to treatment for patients living with diabetes in Africa in a sustainable manner.