Sanofi, Catholic Church partner on diabetes, hypertension management

Sanofi and Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos are partnering to reduce the rate of diabetes and hypertension in Ijede community, an Ikorodu, Lagos State suburb.

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two organisations marked the take-off of a state-of-the-art Diabetes and Hypertension Clinic at St. Raphael Divine Mercy Specialist Hospital, Ijede.

The clinic, supported by Sanofi, is will provide quality health care for diabetes and hypertension patients.

The company’s General Manager, Folake Odediran, expressed delight at the clinic.

She described diabetes and hypertension as major public health concerns, which cause economic burdens for governments, patients and care-givers.

She, however, noted that access to quality care at the primary care level remained a critical gap in the drive to universal health coverage.

She said under the DHC initiative, Sanofi would bridge the gap through public-private partnerships to establish centres of excellence for diabetes and hypertension management.

As parts of its objectives,  DHC would empower the  people and patients with  information and equip healthcare experts with skills to manage the diseases.

Odediran said: “I want to note that this is the first DHC established under this initiative. In setting up this Centre of Excellence, Sanofi has supported the re-training of 40 healthcare practitioners of this hospital, including doctors, pharmacists, nurses, ophthalmologists and laboratory scientists. We are optimistic that this will enable them to deliver good quality of care to their patients.

“We are pleased to collaborate with the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos for the implementation of the pilot DHC Project at St Raphael’s Divine Mercy Specialists Hospitals, Ijede. This institution meets all eligibility criteria as a centre of excellence in diabetes and hypertension care.”

The Medical Director, Sanofi-Aventis Nigeria Limited, Dr. Philip Ikeme, noted that the DHC initiative was aimed at reducing the rate of diabetes and hypertension.

Describing the two conditions as silent killers, Ikeme said many people were not aware that they had the diseases. As a result, they reported late to hospitals.

He said the initiative would help address the gap at all levels of care, adding that the project has been designed to build capacity and empower health workers.

According to him, in addition to managing the two conditions, the company would train health workers.

The Chaplain, Divine Mercy Catholic Chaplaincy, Ikorodu, Rev Father Joe Ben Onyia, described the DHC as an access-to-healthcare initiative and has the approval of the Archbishop and Board Chairman, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins, to be implemented in the hospital.

“As these diseases are among the chief causes of mortality in Nigeria and our Ikorodu environs, it goes to show why we are so happy that with this clinic being inaugurated today, so many lives will be saved,” he said.

The Vicar-General and Vice Chairman of the Board, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, the Rt. Rev. Monsignor John Aniagwu, who led delegation from the archdiocese,  noted that diabetes and hypertension are silent killers, which deserve collaboration between the government and  stakeholders.

He thanked Sanofi for the initiative and pledged that the hospital would implement the project in line with the high standards associated with the Catholic’s health facilities.

“We recognise that there are other facilities in the country but you chose this one. We will not let you down. You will be happy and proud that you chose to work with us,” Monsignor Aniagwu assured the Sanofi officials.

The clinic was opened by Monsignor Aniagwu. Others at event were the Health Coordinator, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Rev Sister Theresa Afareha and  Director of Administration of the hospital, Rev Sister Hyacentha Ihedike.