Who we are

The Diabetes Association of Botswana is a non-profit voluntary organization that has been involved in a number of community projects aimed at educating members of the public about diabetes mellitus. Currently, the association has registered one hundred and twenty children under the age of twenty-one years who have Type 1 diabetes mellitus. The demographic characteristics of these children vary, they live in villages all over Botswana, and there are probably many more of them. About seventy of these children attend specialized care at Princess Marina Hospital. This service, established in April 2010 followed the collaboration between Botswana-Baylor Children’s Clinical Centre of Excellence, University of Botswana School of Medicine and Princess Marina hospital, and is run by paediatric endocrinologists, Dr Seeletso Nchingane, and Dr Dipesalema Joel and diabetes specialist nurse, Mrs Motlalekgomo Matsheng Samuel, the latter who are both on the Management Committee of the diabetes association. In addition, Diabetes Association of Botswana has supported diabetes patients from Diabetes Centre of Excellence at Block 6 Clinic through our bimonthly diabetes support group meetings.

History

The Diabetes Association of Botswana began as Diabetes Care Group (DCG) in July 1994 when Dr Churchill L Onen called a meeting of interested healthcare providers at PMH to a meeting in his clinic. Among responders were Dr MJ Makhema (Physician), Mrs Onalethata Johnson (Pharmacist), Mrs Gladness Tlhomelang (Dietician), Dr Patson Mazonde (Paediatrician), Ms Diteko Matlako (MOPD nurse) and many others including physiotherapists, social workers, other nurses, other pharmacists and surgeons. The enthusiasm to initiate and improve the care of diabetics was overwhelming. But soon the interests quickly waned leaving a small hardcore of people whose dedication and determination to see the idea through were unwavering. That group included Dr Makhema, Mrs Tlhomelang, Mrs Johnson and Dr Onen. The group was joined about two months later by Derby Albers (A nurse at GPH) and Ms Hilda Kawuki (A dietician GPH) whose zeal catapulted the aspirations of the DCG to the birth of the Diabetes Support Group the following year. The management of GPH threw its full weight behind the DSG, thanks to the then deputy matron of the hospital Mrs MacDonald and her husband. Regular patient-centred talks were given mainly at GPH which provided the venues and snacks. For most part, the attendance was abysmal and inconsistent on the side of diabetics and/or their relatives. Virtually all the talks were prepared and delivered by a small core of health providers particularly those who were at the centre stage of the idea. They held regular activities including fund-raising walks along the Western Bypass (12-18 km) generously supported by Mr & Mrs MacDonald, the staff of PMH and GPH as well as many others. There were also several workshops and symposia held to coincide with the commemoration of World Diabetes Day, which were started in 1997. Among our resource persons were eminent Diabetologists like Prof MAK Omar (Durban), Prof Naomi Levitt (Cape Town) and Dr Larry Distiller (Centre for Diabetes & Endocrinology Johannesburg).

With the help of Dr Makhema and Mrs Johnson, Dr Onen drafted the existing constitution of the Diabetes Association of Botswana. DAB was officially registered in 2001 with the help of Mrs Trish Markides and others. Initial attempts to launch the association were thwarted when some of the elected executives -two of whom were diabetics failed to show up for subsequent meetings. The core group finally bore the onus and kept the flame burning until it went into limbo due to staff transfers and resignations. DAB was finally launched in 2005 with Dr Onen as the founding chair, Marcus Markides as vice-chair, Mrs
Joy Crosbie as treasurer, Mrs Gladness Tlhomelang as secretary and Mrs Trish Markides as an official. Notable resource persons to DAB included nurse Motlalekgomo Matsheng (PMH). Details of subsequent activities of DAB from then on to date including the Youth Camps at Mokolodi will be outlined below.

Mission

To provide Diabetes Education, Support and Care in Botswana.

Vision: Future Plans

• Forge an agreement with the Ministry of Health to financially and technically support all the activities of the Association.
• Production of educational literature.
• Continue Fund raising events.
• Offer more promotional items for sale.
• Increase membership.
• Train the District Healthcare Team on the management of diabetes mellitus and its complications through the training of the trainer program.