MoH, SANOFI Ghana launch 'Kids and Diabetes in Schools' programme

The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Sanofi Ghana and other key stakeholders, has officially launched the Kids and Diabetes in Schools (KiDS) Programme — a significant step toward addressing the growing burden of diabetes among children in Ghana.

The launch event, held at the Ministry of Health in Accra, marked the official rollout of educational and preventive tools designed to raise awareness of diabetes among schoolchildren, teachers, and parents.

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Dr. Ignatius Awinibuno, Director of Allied Health and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Lead at the Ministry of Health, emphasized the urgent need to shift attention to the rising prevalence of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes among Ghanaian children and adolescents.

“Traditionally, diabetes was seen as a condition mostly affecting adults. However, we are now witnessing a concerning rise in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes among children and teenagers,” Dr. Awinibuno stated.

"This demands a bold, coordinated response, and that is exactly why we are here today.”

The KiDS Programme, co-developed by Sanofi, the International Diabetes Federation, and the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes, has been carefully adapted to Ghana’s local context.

This was made possible through collaborative efforts involving the Ministry of Health, Ghana Education Service, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, and the Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Society of Ghana (DEMSOG).

Dr. Awinibuno noted that the educational materials underwent rigorous domestication to reflect local dietary realities and cultural practices.

"We couldn’t simply import materials that speak of foods like oats and berries that aren’t common in our homes. Instead, experts considered local foods like cocoa, local greens, and staples whose nutritional content was analyzed and appropriately reflected.”

He added that this thorough adaptation ensures that both children and their caregivers can relate to and effectively apply the information provided in their daily lives.

As part of the broader Affordable Access to Diabetes Care programme, launched in April 2023 through an MoU between the Ministry and Sanofi, the government has made strides in expanding diabetes care access and education across underserved communities. Key achievements under the programme include:

Mentoring over 160 general practitioners using a context-sensitive model,

Donating diagnostic tools to under-resourced health facilities,

Enrolling more than 240 healthcare professionals on international diabetes care platforms,

Disseminating updated national diabetes management guidelines.

"These foundational steps were taken deliberately to build a sustainable, decentralized diabetes care network, especially in lower-income areas where specialist services are scarce or non-existent," Dr. Awinibuno explained.

The KiDS Programme will begin in 13 selected public schools across the country, with the long-term goal of nationwide expansion. The programme is anchored on three key pillars:

1. Support for children living with type 1 diabetes — equipping them to manage their condition confidently and without fear.

2. Reducing stigma and discrimination — through education and awareness in schools.

3. Preventing type 2 diabetes — by encouraging healthy diets, physical activity, and positive lifestyle choices among school-aged children.

“This initiative goes beyond health. It is a strategic investment in our future,” Dr. Awinibuno declared. “We call on the Ghana Education Service, teachers, parents, and students to embrace this programme and make it part of daily school life.”

He concluded by expressing deep gratitude to Sanofi for its technical and resource support, stressing that the success of the initiative was largely due to their continued partnership.

Dr. Awinibuno officially declared the Kids and Diabetes in Schools Programme launched and handed over the educational materials to representatives from the Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service for immediate implementation in schools.

“Let today be remembered as the day we ushered in a new era of school-based health and empowerment. Together, we can raise a generation of children who are aware, informed, and resilient,” he said.

Alhaji Hafez Adam-Taher, Director of the Technical Coordination and Health Planning Directorate, Ministry of Health, described the programme as a key milestone under the broader Affordable Access to Diabetes Care (AADC) initiative.

“This is not just a health initiative. It is an intervention in our future,” Alhaji Hafez said, stressing the need to tackle diabetes from a preventative and educational standpoint, especially among children.

According to him, the journey began on April 14, 2023, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Health and Sanofi. The partnership is designed to address the growing burden of diabetes in Ghana through a four-pillar strategy:

1. Capacity building for healthcare professionals,

2. Strengthening the health system,

3. Promoting disease awareness and prevention, and

4. Improving access to quality insulin for patients who cannot afford it.

He revealed that over 160 general practitioners have been mentored by expert endocrinologists, while more than 240 health professionals have been enrolled on the IBF diabetes educator training platform.

These efforts are focused particularly on lower-income districts where access to diabetes specialists is limited.

Shifting focus to the younger population, Alhaji Hafez said the launch of the KiDS programme marks a strategic expansion from treatment toward early education and prevention.

“Today, we are turning our attention to our children and their future,” he noted.

“We are receiving educational materials tailored to raise diabetes awareness among junior high school students, their teachers, and parents.”

The materials, developed under the Sanofi AADC programme, have undergone thorough review by experts from the Ministry of Health, Ghana Education Service, Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, and the Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Society of Ghana. Alhaji Hafez affirmed that they are both scientifically accurate and culturally relevant.

To ensure effective use of the materials, a workshop will be held for teachers from selected schools in the Greater Accra Region immediately after the launch event.

This will support seamless integration of the content into the Ghana Education Service curriculum.

Alhaji Hafez concluded by encouraging collective action: “Let today serve as a catalyst for equipping schools, teachers and students with the knowledge and tools to prevent diabetes, support those living with it, and reduce stigma through inclusive and informed learning.”

Mrs. Theresa Oppong Mensah, National Coordinator of the School Health Education Programme (SHEP), said the initiative was more than symbolic — it represented a significant step forward in safeguarding the wellbeing of students and supporting those living with or at risk of diabetes.

“Today’s event is more than a symbolic gesture. It is a real step forward in addressing a gap that exists in many of our schools — the lack of awareness, education, and support structures for children living with or at risk of diabetes,” she said.

The KiDS Programme, a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Health, Ghana Education Service, Sanofi, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD), and the Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Society of Ghana (DEMSOG), is set to begin in 13 selected public schools across the country.

According to Mrs. Oppong Mensah, more than 7,000 students, teachers, and parents will benefit from age-appropriate and life-saving educational materials developed to raise awareness about diabetes.

The resources cover key areas such as prevention, healthy nutrition, physical activity, and support for students living with the condition.

“The materials being launched and donated today will empower children to make healthier choices, equip teachers to support students living with diabetes, and enable parents to become active agents of change in their homes,” she explained.

As part of the programme, teachers from the participating schools will undergo training from experts in diabetes and nutrition. These trained educators will return to their schools with the capacity to:

Educate students on diabetes and healthy living,

Identify and support students living with diabetes, and

Share their knowledge with fellow teachers and parents.

Describing the programme as a “holistic, school-centered approach to health promotion,” Mrs. Oppong Mensah emphasized the importance of collaboration in extending the impact of the initiative beyond the pilot schools.

“We at GES strongly believe that when children understand their health, they make better choices. When teachers are empowered, they create safer, more inclusive classrooms. And when parents are informed, they become key partners in their children’s wellbeing,” she stated.

She expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Health, Sanofi, and all development partners for their dedication to improving school health, and called for continued collaboration to scale the programme across the country.

“Together, let’s empower children to take charge of their health,” she concluded.