A second programme was launched last November 2013 in Senegal to use mobile for Diabetes Prevention and Control. Diabetes is a major concern in Sub-Saharan Africa; IDF estimates the number of sufferers is 15 million, a full 81.2% of them undiagnosed. There is, therefore, clear impetus for a country-scale awareness-raising campaign to provide the general population with information on diabetes, such as its symptoms and effects.
It would serve both as a form of prevention and as a way of directing diabetics towards their preferred option for its management and treatment (insulin, being subsidized by Senegal’s government, is thus affordable and widely available).
A kick-off workshop was held in Dakar on 25-27 November 2013 bringing key professionals and partners to discuss on priorities and mechanisms to run the mDiabetes programme and scale it nationally in Senegal. Three main areas of interventions have been identified by stakeholders around:
1) Primary, secondary and tertiary prevention using an SMS based campaign;
2) An mTraining program for health professionals and community health workers CHW in rural areas using SMS based training for CHW and Smart Phone/tablet based educational programs for doctors and;
3) Patients monitoring component to send images of Diabetic foot taken by a mobile phone to a central server for remote consultation and second opinion. Next steps will include the drafting of a detailed programme document, partnership agreements signature, content development, piloting, etc.
The launch of the service for the general public is planned by November 2014.
See video of H.E. Madame le Professeur Awa Marie Coll SECK, Minister of Health and Social Action, Senegal announcing the launch of the mDiabetes Programme in Senegal during the national celebration of the Diabetes day on November 25th, 2013
