The Dominica Diabetes Association (DOMDA) is launching a comprehensive campaign for World Diabetes Month this November, anchoring its public health push in faith-based outreach and targeted Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) sessions to drive community-wide awareness and early prevention.
Operating under the global theme, “Early action on diabetes,” the month-long initiative aims to mobilize schools, congregations, and families across the island to actively combat the condition, according to a press release from the organization.
DOMDA is intentionally leveraging the influential role of the church to deliver vital health information and spark open family dialogues about diabetes. The cornerstone of this spiritual outreach will take place on November 14, marking World Diabetes Day with a special service at the Roseau Seventh-day Adventist Church at 10:30 a.m. The Association has extended a widespread invitation to individuals living with diabetes, their relatives, and caregivers. According to DOMDA, the service serves a dual purpose by bridging personal health management with spiritual stewardship, while encouraging congregations to prioritize proper nutrition and early diagnostic testing.
Recognizing the rising risks among children and young people, DOMDA has also structured a robust educational campaign through regional and local school networks to encourage healthy eating and physical activity. The educational drive kicks off with a special regional, online PTA session connecting Barbados and Dominica on November 23, organized in collaboration with the Health and Education Departments of the East Caribbean Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. This will be followed by an in-person PTA engagement hosted by the Portsmouth Secondary School on November 24, and the school campaign will conclude with a localized session at the Bense Primary School on November 30.
Through these sessions, the Association is urgently calling on parents and educators to promote nutritious lunch options, eliminate sugary drinks, and recognize the early warning signs of diabetes. Crucially, the sessions will also equip teachers with the knowledge required to support students managing Type 1 diabetes in the classroom.
The campaign officially begins today, November 2, with a nationwide press release and a formal address to the nation acknowledging World Diabetes Awareness Month. To close out the month’s initiatives, DOMDA will turn to physical wellness by partnering with the Lions Club to host a community Glow Walk on November 27.
Through this diverse itinerary, DOMDA hopes to foster a collaborative environment where individuals, schools, and community organizations work together to strengthen public understanding and support those affected by diabetes.
