First Annual Ogun State Diabetes Summer Youth Camp (Aug. 2021)

The First Annual Ogun Youth Diabetes Camp was held from Sunday, 15th August, 2021 to Wednesday, 18th August, 2021 at the Youth Development Centre (YDC) of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.

The Camp was a collaborative effort between Talabi Diabetes Centre, Isara, Remo, Ogun State; Late Dr. Abi Afonja Trust, Joga-Orile, Ogun State; the Ogun State Chapter of the Diabetes Association of Nigeria; the Ogun State Chapter of the Association of Paediatric and Adolescent Endocrinologists of Nigeria (ASPEN); the Youth Development Centre (YDC) of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) and the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) desk of the Ogun State Ministry of Health.

Twenty-one young people living with Type 1 Diabetes (three males and eighteen females) between the ages of 11 and 25 years attended the program at no cost to them: each one of them was given a CAMP TOOL BAG. The attendees were recommended for the Camp by Diabetes clinics in the public and private health facilities in Ogun, Ondo and Lagos States of Nigeria. each

Each day of the Camp started with aerobic exercises anchored by a physiotherapist. This was to inculcate in the campers the usefulness and importance of exercise which is one of the main-stays of diabetes care. The campers were very enthusiastic about the daily exercise sessions.

On Monday, the first full day of the Camp, the campers had lecture sessions on: Type 1 Diabetes; the Psychological aspects of diabetes; the use of Glucose Monitors; Diet and Control of Diabetes. In between the lectures, the campers had a guided tour of the Presidential Library, during which each one of them was given a pictorial literature of Nigeria at 50 —a chronicled contribution of former President Olusegun Obasanjo—(the Patron of the Library) to the development of Nigeria. The day was rounded off at the Library Cinema.

The highlight of the second day was the Lecture titled “My Experience with Type 1 Diabetes” delivered via Zoom from Scotland by Vivian Okoro. Vivian was first diagnosed with the condition in Jos, Nigeria at the age of seven years: she has since been living with the condition for over 32 years.  She is currently researching into Type 1 Diabetes for her Doctorate degree program at the University of Glasgow, Scotland. The campers were highly motivated by the interactive lecture. After the lecture, the Campers visited the Library Zoo. While at the zoo, they were given a comprehensive lecture on insulin–their indispensable life line. The day’s activities ended once again at the Cinema.

On Wednesday, the final day of the Camp, the Ogun State Commissioner of Health,  Dr. Tomi Coker, gave words of encouragement to the campers. He advised them to put into practice all they have learnt at the camp meeting and to share the same with their peers that did not have the opportunity to attend the meeting.

The closing ceremony was also graced by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. The young campers were pleasantly surprised and excited to have a former President of Nigeria shared his over 35 years experiences of living with Type II Diabetes with them. Chief Obasanjo gave a well-structured talk on diabetes in a simple easy to follow, assimilate and remember language: by the time he finished speaking, diabetes was demystified. This brought a palpable relief to all present; especially the campers and the parents/guardians. Furthermore, Chief Obasanjo made it abundantly clear to the young campers that they should not allow diabetes to define them; rather, he urged them to see it as a driving force to move them on in life in the pursuit and attainment of their dreams and goals: adding that if he was able to do so and became the President and Head of State of Nigeria, they too can be whatever they desired to be. This, coming from a former President of Nigeria, was a treasured take-away for the young campers. A question and answer session thereafter followed during which he gave an insight into the inspiration behind the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library.

The program was rounded off with the presentation of CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE to the participants.

FALLOUTS FROM THE CAMP MEETING:

1. In the course of the camping session, the President of the Diabetes Association of Nigeria—(DAN) requested the Centre to nominate one of the campers for consideration as one of Nigeria’s two representatives at the IDF’s Blue Circle Voices—a Diabetes Advocacy Forum. Omolade Onafowokan, (female; 23 years old) a 4th year (final year) Dental Therapy student of School of Health Technology, Ilese, Ogun State was nominated and her name submitted to DAN. Her nomination was approved by IDF’s Blue Circle Voices—she is now a Blue Circle member. ——(her picture to be attached)

1. In the course of interacting with the campers, one of them, Omolade Oduntan, sadly informed the Centre’s CHO that she would have to give up her admission into the four years Political Science degree program at the NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA as her parents could not afford to pay her fees. The Centre secured a full scholarship for her course duration from the Founder’s wife’s Education Trust Fund.

Talabi Diabetes Centre greatly appreciates all our collaborators and look forward to the Second Annual Ogun Diabetes Youth Camp in August 2022.

Dr Olubiyi Adesina

Camp Coordinator

Isara-Remo.

06/09/2021