The Ministry of Health (MOH) in collaboration with Sanofi, a French global healthcare and Pharmaceutical Company supported by the Diabetes Endocrine and Metabolic Society of Ghana (DEMSOG) have launched the “Affordable Access to Diabetes Care Program” at the 37 Military Hospital Methodist/Presby Church on Wednesday July 12, 2023.

The launch was to train medical specialists such as Doctors, Nurses and Dieticians on the global increase of Diabetes and measures to control the disease. The project is dubbed ‘’ Affordable Access to Diabetes Care Program’’ to help fight the disease amongst the Ghanaian populace.

The training would be held in three regions namely, Greater Accra, Sunyani and Tamale for healthcare personnel who have specialized in Diabetes care. 170 Nurses, 80 Doctors and Dietitians would be trained to deliver better diabetes care to patients. Also, to diagnose, prevent and make high quality drugs and  insulin affordable to diabetic patients.

The Technical Director MOH Ghana and the Special Advisor to the Minister of Health, Dr Baffour Awuah, who launched the project said that the initiative was aimed at strengthening and delivering the best and affordable diabetes care to patients. He added that the MOH launched the non-communicable disease policy not long ago and the policy had five main objectives which is to Strengthen the health system for Non-Communicable Disease (NCDs) prevention and control, reduce exposure to NCD risk factors, strengthen early detection and management to reduce morbidity and mortality from NCDs, ensure sustainable funding mechanisms and stakeholders’ collaboration.

Dr Baffour Awuah reiterated that the collaboration between the MOH and Sanofi would also afford diabetes management solutions at the various diabetes centers where 500 healthcare professionals would benefit from a targeted medical training programme. The global healthcare pharmaceutical company, Sanofi will also develop a digital solution to help physicians, nurses, pharmacists and community healthcare workers to support more than 5,000 people living with diabetes.

The Head of the National Diabetes Management and Research Centre (NDMRC) and a senior lecturer at the University of Ghana Medical School (UGMS), Dr Yacoba Atiase, said that the “Affordable Access to Diabetes Care Program’’ is a three (3) year collaboration between MOH and Sanofi which would enhance the capacity building of healthcare professionals through the NCDs.

Dr Yacoba Atiase noted that although Ghana had six per cent diabetes prevalence rate, it did not have enough human resource to make the treatment of diabetes accessible to many. She added that currently there are only 30 doctors with specialist training in diabetes care in the country. She advised health professionals in diabetic care should constantly update themselves in with the care of the disease because diabetes care and treatment are changing at a fast pace and that how the disease was managed some years ago is not how it is done now.



Vice President DEMSOG and Senior Lecturer UGMS, Dr Ernest Yorke said DEMSOG since its formation as a society is involved in advocacy, initiative and training. He added that the society has recently partnered with the Ministry of Health to develop a document for the Ghana Health Service and other partners which would be published few months ahead. He added he was elated that together with MOH and other partners, the society had been able to develop the first ever national diabetes diagnosis. He thanked the MOH, Sanofi and Other stakeholders for the good initiative.

Present at the occasion were the Director-General Ghana Armed Forces Medical Services, Brig Gen Raymond Ewusi, Commander 37 Military Hospital Brig Gen Prosper Ayibor, Commanding Officer 37 Military Hospital Col Evelyn Vivian Abraham-Kwabiah, Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) Col Francisca Aba Amakyi, CNO Clinical Col Patience Owusu Aidoo, Lt Commander Diane Afeng Nkansah, Sanofi Medical Head Sub-Saharan Africa Dr Adopo Ardillẻs-Rolland, Some Senior Officers of the Formation and some representatives from MOH, Sanofi and DEMSOG.