2016 World Health Day
Oasis PHC in collaboration with Niger Delta University celebrated 2016 World Health Day on Thursday, 7 April 2016.
“Beat Diabetes out of Niger Delta University/Bayelsa State”
Background
World Health Day (WHD) is celebrated annually on April 7, the day when the constitution of the World Health Organization (WHO) was ratified in 1948. Each year a theme is selected to draw attention to global and topical health issue. The theme for this year is Beat diabetes.Diabetes is preventable by simple measures and it is treatable. The main goals of WHD 2016 are to increase awareness about the disease, and to initiate specific actions to prevent and control the disease.
In the spirit of public-private partnership (PPP), the Niger Delta University collaborated with Oasis Public Health Consulting to celebrate the day. The event also coincided with the beginning of the funeral rites and was used to honour late D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha, the first civilian governor of Bayelsa State and the first visitor to the university. As a way of domesticating the event, the theme of the day was modified to “Beat Diabetes out of Niger Delta University/Bayelsa State”
Two major activities were held on the day. First was a screening exercise, which took place at the Gloryland and College of Health Sciences campuses of the university. It was mainly planned for the university community but some members of Amassoma, the university host community, also benefitted from the screening. The people were screened for diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. This lasted from morning, about 9.00am to about 2.00pm in the afternoon. About 400 staff, students and community members were screened. The second activity was a “town-and-gown” gathering which brought together people from academia and from non-academic organizations involved in health care delivery in the state. In attendance were the Chief Medical Director, Bayelsa State Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Leishman Kosipre; the Deputy State Epidemiologist, Dr. Neni Aworabhi, who represented the Permanent Secretary and the Director of Public Health, and other dignitaries. The Bayelsa State Coordinator of World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Richard Koko delivered the keynote address for the event. The Acting Head of Department of Community Medicine, Dr. Abisoye Oyeyemi gave a lecture on Epidemiology and Control of Diabetes, while the Director of Health Services, NDU, Dr. Ebitimi Omu presented on Diagnosis and Treatment of Diabetes. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Humphrey Ogoni, chaired the session. The event was hosted by the Provost of the College of health Sciences, Prof. Beledaunyo Fente.
