Yaa Bimpeh
My Story
At 14 years of age, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I was immediately cast aside by the community and school, shadowed by rumors that I was cursed, that my condition was contagious, and that death was around the corner. Most of my friends abandoned me, and I became depressed and lived a rather lonely life. I soldiered on through a bleak high school existence until I was given the opportunity to pursue nursing. It was there that I quickly realized how even in the medical field, little was known about “diabetes in children”. I decided to focus on coupling my medical focus with raising public awareness about type 1 diabetes. Having seen first had the risk that lack of awareness puts on a child, I knew that I needed to raise my voice.
My Advocacy
Lack of education about diabetes, stigmatization, inadequate access to and costly insulin and supplies make life with diabetes in Ghana difficult. However, I am determined to build my advocacy skills through the Pamoja Advocacy program so no child has to endure what I endured.
My team advocacy goal for 2018 was to educate the community about type 1 diabetes and reduce misunderstandings about it type 1 diabetes in schools and to educate the community in schools and educate. To do that, my team wanted to deliver 6 presentations in schools about type 1 diabetes in Cape Coast and Accra regions. Despite challenges, our team has been able to hold a variety of events and presentations. We have educated thousands of young people to help them understand type 1 diabetes, why insulin is essential, and why having diabetes does not mean that a person is any less valuable than anyone else.
We end all of our presentations with a chant of ‘‘Pamoja! Together we can!’’
MORE GHANAIAN ADVOCATES
