The Sunday Mail
Rudo Mandiro
At a time when there is disproportionate focus on fighting the coronavirus pandemic, the Zimbabwe Diabetes Association (ZDA) has been battling to ensure that people living with diabetes get equal attention.
Estimates suggest that around 1,4 million people – or 10 percent of the population – are living with diabetes.
Through one of its ambassadors, Tinotenda Dzikiti, ZDA has undertaken various campaigns both in and out of the country to raise awareness about the disease.
He has been working closely with ZDA since 2019, when he was selected to represent the association as an ambassador in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
As a voluntary young leader of ZDA, Dzikiti was also recently approved as a member of Health Action International (HAI) and became involved in advocacy work.
“Their determination encouraged and enlightened me to realise that I could start engaging with the community through campaigns, radio and television interviews, newspaper articles and personal blogs to help encourage, educate, (and) raising awareness as an agent of change,’’ said Dzikiti of his involvement with HAI.
Since last year, he has evolved into a digital advocate for T1International, where he helps amplify T1International’s work by advocating online for people with Type 1 Diabetes globally.
“The main goal of the role is to spread the word about T1International, allowing others to think about these issues, speak out, get involved and donate if they can.
“I have been a patient advocate with #dedoc°voices! In October 2020, I was awarded a scholarship to attend the 46th ISPAD annual conference, and in 2021 was awarded another scholarship to attend the 14th International Conference on Advanced Technologies & Treatment for Diabetes (ATTD).
“As a patient advocate, I was able to support my community by sharing my learnings from the events, sessions and symposia I would have attended to empower and inform others in the diabetes (online) community,” he said.
