Rethink Initiative gains IDF recognition for its impactful work in advancing diabetes care and awareness in Nigeria.
Rethink Initiative for Health has earned international recognition from the International Diabetes Federation for its growing impact in advancing diabetes care, awareness, and data-driven intervention across Nigeria, marking a significant milestone for grassroots public health advocacy in the country.
The recognition followed a World Diabetes Day outreach which took place in Nneogidi, Agulu, Anambra State. The event, listed on the International Diabetes Federation website among 836 global activities across 122 countries, placed Nigeria firmly on the global map of community-led diabetes action. It was organised by Rethink Initiative for Health in partnership with the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigerian Students, UNIZIK chapter.
The outreach focused on rural and underserved populations, where low health literacy, poverty, and limited access to care continue to fuel the diabetes burden. Residents of the community received free blood glucose screening, essential medications including metformin and antihypertensives, and practical education on diabetes prevention, self-management, nutrition, and lifestyle changes. Participants were also issued personal care cards to track daily blood glucose and blood pressure readings, a simple but critical tool for long-term disease control.
Beyond immediate care, the Agulu outreach reinforced Rethink Initiative’s broader vision of transforming diabetes care through data. The organisation is leading Nigeria’s first community-level Diabetes Mapping Project, an ambitious effort to document the prevalence, incidence, and overall burden of diabetes across villages, towns, local government areas, and states nationwide. By collecting real-world community data, the initiative aims to shift diabetes response in Nigeria from guesswork to evidence-based action.
Rethink Initiative was founded on the conviction that diabetes in Nigeria requires a fundamental change in approach, from awareness and prevention to early detection and sustained care. While diabetes is often preventable and manageable, it remains widely undiagnosed, particularly in rural communities. The organisation bridges this gap by combining grassroots outreach with technology and health data analytics, ensuring that local insights drive national impact.
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Its work spans education, patient support, and data-driven outreach. Through community workshops, prevention seminars, nutrition education, and health literacy campaigns, Rethink Initiative equips Nigerians with the knowledge to make informed health decisions. Regular free screenings, medication support, glucometer and test strip distribution, and peer support groups provide direct relief to people already living with diabetes. Meanwhile, health surveys, mobile clinics, telemedicine services, and impact measurement tools strengthen long-term monitoring and policy relevance.
A key figure behind the initiative’s technological innovation is Farouk Adams, Director of Digital Health Technology at Rethink Initiative for Health. He developed Sweet Balance, an AI-powered mobile application designed to support culturally tailored diabetes management for Nigerians. His work has received international attention, further amplifying Nigeria’s voice in global digital health conversations.
The International Diabetes Federation recognition highlights the growing relevance of community-based, data-informed health solutions in addressing Africa’s non-communicable disease crisis. For Rethink Initiative, it is both validation and motivation to scale its work until every Nigerian household understands diabetes, can detect it early, and has access to the tools needed to manage it effectively.
As diabetes cases continue to rise across Nigeria, initiatives that blend compassion, innovation, and credible data may prove critical in shaping the country’s health future.
