Launching of the MDiabetes initiative funded by Italy and implemented by WHO in Sudan

On February 6th, the launching ceremony of the project funded by the Italian Cooperation and implemented by World Health Organization (WHO) took place. The project aimed at supporting a Smoke Free Environment (SFE) programme and a Health Warning Label and mDiabetes programmes in #Sudan and #Ethiopia. 

The ceremony in Khartoum has been opened by the WHO rappresentative Hoda Youssef Atta, the Federal Ministry of Health Undersecretary Shaza Sida Hmed, the rappresentatives of child and adult diabetes associations and AICS Khartoum  and it has been the occasion to recall that #Noncommunicable #diseases (#NCDs) kill more people than any other set of conditions, causing 15 million premature deaths per year. Most of these deaths occur in developing countries where health systems are already strained.
In Sudan, according to WHO statics around 9%-12% of the population is affected by diabetes.
The main goal of the initiative sis to develop a prevention system based on mobile technology (mHealth) and particularly text messaging and apps, to help combat noncommunicable diseases (#NCDs). The programme uses SMS messages to increase awareness about diabetes, train health workers, provide remote consultation services and provide management support for diabetics. The Mdiabetes systems has been working with Senegal and in Egypt. A second component of the initiative aims at developing Tobacco Control including Water-pipe and Toombak, to secure a better compliance with the WHO recommendations and the WHO FCTC obligations.