The National Diabetes Association has dragged the Ministry of Health (MoH) to the president over the latter’s refusal to deal with it in the organisation of this year’s World Diabetes Day scheduled for November 14, 2016.
The association claims that the ministry is rather dealing with a Coalition of NGOs In Health and Novo Nordisk, a Danish organisation, in breach of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) dating back to June 2012, under which government would support it in the fight against diabetes, including the subject under review.
In a petition sent through its lawyers, Gynaye Chambers, the association pointed out that the Health Ministry “has had a Memorandum of Understanding with the association since September 2012, through the then sector Minister Mr Alban S. K. Bagbin to support it in the fight against diabetes,” a deal which has been contravened.”
The association went on to point out that the minister of health has since December 2015 appointed a certain Kofi Edusei from Regenerative Health to work hand-in-hand with them in the organisation of the World Diabetes Day.
According to the association, by the action of the Health Ministry in dealing with the Coalition “you seek to undermine Mrs Elizabeth Denyoh, the West African Chairperson of the International Diabetes Federation.”
Information gathered by DAILY GUIDE indicates that the organisation of the World Diabetes Day falls mainly on Elizabeth Denyoh, who apart from being the President of the National Diabetes Association, is also the sole Ghanaian representative of the International Diabetes Federation.
The association has threatened to take legal action against the ministry and expose what it considers “the petty politicking being orchestrated by the Health Ministry” through a press conference.
The management of diabetes in the country, according to a source within the association, has witnessed challenges of funding from the Health Ministry.
The clearance of a consignment of insulin from the airport is said to have suffered a setback because of non-availability of funds for the customs procedure.
There are about three million diabetics in the country and the rate of amputations due to diabetes-related cases is nowhere abating.
In a related development, Dr Ahmed Reja, Chairperson of the International Diabetes Federation, Africa Region, who doubles as the President of the Ethiopian Diabetes Association, has fired a correspondence to the health minister dated November 10, 2016, appealing for support to enable the National Diabetes Association hold the forthcoming World Diabetes Day.
“This is, therefore, to humbly request your good office to assist the Diabetes Association of Ghana to celebrate world diabetes day and render better services to Ghanaians living with diabetes.”
The Ministry of Health Public Relations Officer, Tony Goodman, has however, denied that the National Diabetes Association is being sidelined by the Health Ministry.
He explained that the ministry is supporting the National Diabetes Association to organise the day in Big Ada and the Coalition of NGOs in Kumasi.
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(Via: NewsGhana)
