CIDRZ Hosts Diabetes Boot Camp in Zambia
A four-day boot camp for young people living with type 1 diabetes in Zambia combined entertainment and sports activities with education on self-management of the condition. (Content and photos—above and in the gallery below—courtesy of CIDRZ)
In August, the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia—better known as CIDRZ—held a four-day type 1 diabetes boot camp for young patients from level-one hospitals in Mwachinsopola, Kapiri Mposhi, and Matero. CIDRZ is the NCDI Poverty Network’s PEN-Plus implementing partner for Zambia.
The camp, which was hosted in collaboration with the Diabetic Association of Zambia and the Sonia Nabeta Foundation of Uganda, combined entertainment with education on self-management of diabetes.
According to a CIDRZ writeup on Facebook, the campers also engaged in lighthearted sports competitions. Before those began, though, Dr. Ruth Nawa, a member of Zambia’s Ministry of Health and a physician at the Matero Level One Hospital in Lusaka, emphasized the importance of physical activity in managing blood sugar levels, noting that exercise enhances insulin sensitivity and reduces the amount of insulin needed to process carbohydrates.
“As we head for sports, checking your blood sugar before exercising is important to ensure it is within the target range,” she told the campers. “And be alert to how your body responds to exercise to prevent immediate or delayed hypoglycemia.”
Ophelia Nabeta, regional director of the Sonia Nabeta Foundation, noted that boot camps should be part of the type 1 diabetes care model, as they offer essential education on self-management techniques, promote lifelong friendships, and build a supportive community.
“Our flagship camps, which address some of the psychosocial barriers to good clinical outcomes,” she said, “provide a structured environment where children and adolescents with T1D—aka warriors—can learn tailored to their age and needs.”
During the awards ceremony, Professor Fastone Goma, a PEN-Plus principal investigator and an associate professor at the University of Zambia School of Medicine, thanked the Sonia Nabeta Foundation collaborators for their support and expertise. He also praised the campers and reminded them they were all winners.
