100 NIGERIAN FEMALE ADVOCATES IN 100 DAYS

In 2009, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) launched the Women and Diabetes Programme, to build global support for women living with diabetes. There were an estimated 151 million women with diabetes in 2011 and this number is expected to rise to 275 million by 2030.

As a federation of over 200 MAs in over 160 countries, IDF is in a unique position to promote the women and diabetes agenda.

The Women and Diabetes Programme aims to:

Build the evidence base
Raise global awareness and commitments
Strengthen gender responsive health systems
Empower women as key agents in the fight against diabetes

The aims of the Women and Diabetes Programme are framed within the commitment IDF made to the UN Every Women Every Child initiative, which was launched by the UN Secretary General to put into action the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health:

“The International Diabetes Federation commits to increase recognition of the linkages between diabetes and related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and women and children's health, support the integration of diabetes into existing health systems and maternal and newborn child health initiatives, and empower girls and women to prevent diabetes in current and future generations.

IDF WOMEN AND DIABETES PROGRAMME ACTIVITIES

Activities of the Women and Diabetes Programme fit within four broad categories:

Global awareness & advocacy: At the national and global levels, advocate for women and diabetes as a priority global health and development issue

Building the evidence base: Epidemiological, qualitative and health systems research of the direct and indirect burden of diabetes on girls and women

Best practice projects: Combine research and in-the-field interventions to establish models of diagnosis and care for women with diabetes and to improve their health outcomes

Knowledge sharing: Organise and participate in side-events, meetings and conferences with other experts and stakeholders in the field of diabetes".






Living with Diabetes is hard on women and its burden on women is unique because the disease can affect both mothers and their unborn children.

Diabetes can cause difficulties during pregnancy and delivery such as large sized babies, miscarriage or a baby born with birth defects. Women with diabetes are also more likely to have a heart attack, and at a younger age, than women without diabetes.

For women who do not currently have diabetes, pregnancy brings the risk of gestational diabetes. Based on recently announced diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes, it is estimated that gestational diabetes develops in 18 percent of all pregnancies but disappears when a pregnancy is over.

Women who have had gestational diabetes or have given birth to a baby weighting more than 9 pounds are at an increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes later in life


We at the Nigeria Diabetes Online Community believe in Female education and empowerment towards adequate Diabetes care and quality health delievery.
Hence, we plan to motivate 100 females who are ready to raise awareness about Diabetes in their communities.

So if you are a female or a female youth leader passionate about Diabetes Care and Prevention in Nigeria, enthusiastic about change in your community and you wish to create awareness about diabetes in Nigeria via social media thereby reducing its prevalence and the stigma associated with it.

Please feel free to contact us on thengdoc@gmail.com



References

International Diabetes Federation
American Diabetes Association