People with diabetes in Senegal benefit from mobile health advice in Ramadan

ITU News

“m-Diabetes accompanies you with SMS advice for Ramadan. To receive the advice send DIAB to 21214 or STOP to unsubscribe.”

That message kicked off the 10th annual mRamadan campaign in Senegal last week.

Designed to provide practical health and nutritional guidance to people living with diabetes during Ramadan fasting, the campaign has benefitted hundreds of thousands of people in one of the most populous countries in West Africa since its first cycle in 2014. 

Ramadan is a period of major cultural and social significance or most Muslims. The religious tradition of fasting during daylight hours is also an important opportunity to improve one’s overall well-being and strengthen relationships with family and friends.

But for people living with diabetes, fasting without full awareness and a proper diet can significantly raise the risk of complications and adverse health events, according to medical research.  

Diabetes is a key focus of the Be He@lthy, Be Mobile (BHBM) global joint initiative by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). 

Together with Senegal’s Ministry of Health and Social Action (MSAS) and the Senegalese Association for the Support of People with Diabetes (ASSAD), the BHBM initiative launched the mRamadan campaign to leverage mobile technology to deliver preventive health advice to people’s phones and promote healthy lifestyles.

Since its launch in 2014, mRamadan’s users have grown from just over 1,000 to more than 200,000. The service, based on the BHBM Handbook on How to Implement mDiabetes, is provided by the three major telecom operators in Senegal on a pro bono basis .

The project’s success is attributable to several factors, including strong partnerships between the health and telecommunication sectors. ASSAD and MSAS have worked actively with partners around the country, enabling mRamadan to become a regular nationwide service.

Secondly, the project has linked mobile health to a valued cultural and religious practice. Practical advice on how to fast safely during Ramadan is valued by Muslim people living with diabetes in Senegal.

Finally, the service is evidence-based. A clinical trial in 2017 found that the SMS messages were associated with improved glycaemic control in people with type 2 diabetes. This demonstrates the potential for services like mRamadan to meaningfully support people living with diabetes and other individuals with non-communicable diseases.

Overall, the mRamadan project in Senegal exemplifies how a mobile health project initially introduced by international development partners can graduate into a nationwide service, operating regularly, administered by the government, and widely used by the population.

By leveraging mobile technology, mRamadan has empowered diabetics in Senegal to take control of their health and make informed decisions about their lifestyle choices.

Its success could suggest similar opportunities for other countries.

The joint WHO-ITU Be Healthy, Be Mobile (BHBM) global initiative aims to leverage the widespread use of mobile devices to provide people with access to health information and services, including scaling up targeted communication for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), and basic guidance for disease prevention and management.

Since its launch in 2012, the initiative has supported millions of people in dozens of countries around the world, while also helping governments build capacity and strategic partnerships for the implementation and scaling of digital health programmes.

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