Posts

Showing posts from June, 2024

Empowering Women with Diabetes: Insights from the Women & Diabetes Symposium in Indonesia

Image
Women & Diabetes Symposium – Indonesia Introducing Our Guest Contributor: Anita Sabidi AnitaSabidi is an artist, illustrator, and designer from Jakarta, Indonesia, living with type 1 diabetes, cardiomyopathy, and asthma. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 13, Anita has turned her personal health challenges into a mission to raise awareness and advocate for improved healthcare access. She collaborates with Indonesia's diabetes community organizations, such as PERSADIA, IKADAR, and the NCD Alliance Indonesia. She uses her creative talents to design educational materials and customized diabetes wear that help children and families understand diabetes better. Anita's dedication extends to organizing workshops and educational programs to address the unique challenges faced by people living with multiple non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Indonesia. Empowering Women through Awareness and Education The Women & Diabetes Symposium aims to increase awareness of the unique ...

The Future is Now: Co-Creation Workshop on Severe NCDs - A Pathway to Change

Image
  Background On June 22, 2024, we held a transformative co-creation workshop at the UNICEF offices in Harare, bringing together over 60 participants, including healthcare professionals (Medical Doctors and Nurses), school teachers, civil society organizations leaders, renowned NCDs Advocates, children and parents living with severe non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as Type 1 Diabetes, Sickle Cell Disease, Congenital/Rheumatic Heart Disease, and those impacted by  Asthma . This significant milestone marked a strategic shift in focus from communicable diseases to NCDs, highlighting the evolving health landscape and the pressing need to address these chronic conditions that affect many lives. Our primary aim was to build a supportive community, amplify the voices of those living with NCDs, and bridge the gap between healthcare providers and patients. Introduction The workshop was more than just a meeting; it was a crucial moment for advocacy and collaboration. Participants en...

Breaking Barriers: fighting for our daughter's disability rights in U.S. Schools

Image
Coral, T1D since 03/16 Welcome to our guest blog, where we have the honor of featuring the insightful perspective of Shelsea Deng , a dedicated advocate for children with chronic conditions. In this compelling piece, Shelsea shares her journey advocating for her daughter, Coral, who was diagnosed with autoimmune Type 1 diabetes at a very young age. Through her experiences, Shelsea sheds light on the challenges faced by families dealing with chronic conditions in the education system. Shelsea, Coral & Kaila In your experience, how has stigma and discrimination affected your child's education and daily life? My first-born daughter, Coral, was diagnosed with autoimmune Type 1 diabetes at 15 months old on March 11, 2016, back home in Oahu, HI. Type 1 diabetes is very rare among Asians and even rarer in Native Hawaiians (we are part of the "AANHPI" community and also part Native American). Consequently, I have often been confronted with a barrage of questions and misconcep...

Pediatric Diabetes Workshop: A Resounding Success

Image
Cover Image Under the directive of Dr. I. Ticklay and Certified Diabetes Educator Tinotenda Dzikiti, the Pediatric Diabetes Workshop was held with immense success. This event, supported by Public Relations facilitators from Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals— Leona Matope and Paul Nyambabvu—and featuring an array of distinguished speakers, brought together a vibrant and engaged audience of over 110 participants. Our esteemed speakers included Dr. P. Matyanga-Mureriwa, Dr. T. Siwela, Dr. T. Gomo, Mrs. Pfumbi, and diabetes advocates Yemurai Machirori, Rufaro Gororo, and Heather Koga, along with the SolidarMed team: NCD nurses. Joyline Chihota, Ruth Hlongwane, Annastacia Makudo, Judah Mapope and Unity Maziti. This collaborative effort truly embodied our theme of “Empowering Families Living with Type 1 Diabetes.” Some of the Facilitators Highlighting Key Sessions Dr. Prisca Mureriwa’s session on understanding type 1 and type 2 diabetes was both comprehensive and engaging. She not only ...