Nasiru Alhaji Shaba, CEO of Nigeria's Centre for Diabetes Foot and Wound Care Foundation, is transforming lives through community engagement, proving that every small step can lead to significant change in the fight against diabetes.
Nasiru Alhaji Shaba, an Orthopaedic technician and the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Diabetic Foot and Wound Care Foundation, has dedicated his life to providing comprehensive care, education, and support to those affected by diabetes.
His organisation, established in 2019, places a strong emphasis on foot health and wound care. They organised their first Walk in 2021 and joined the Ambassador programme in 2023.
‘Over the past few years, we have worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the importance of diabetes management and the prevention of complications’, Nasiru shares. ‘Our efforts have included community walks, educational workshops, and support groups.’
The centre’s overarching goal, he adds, is to ‘empower individuals with the knowledge and resources they need to lead healthier lives’. They are committed to reducing the rate of diabetes-related foot amputations and wound complications in their community.
A question often posed to Nasiru is whether he can share a key moment or experience he had from the many community events he facilitated to raise awareness for this often-silent disease.
‘One of the most memorable moments I had while organising a Walk for diabetes awareness was during our first event in 2021. We had a local fitness group involved, we started the walk with just about 10 people and a few metres away we met this fitness group, and they approached us to ask if they could join in.’, Nasiru recounts.
‘After the walk, the fitness instructor became interested and contacted us to create a diabetes awareness group for their members who have been meeting once a month since then.’
This experience is a powerful example of the ripple effect that community involvement can have in raising awareness and fostering understanding about diabetes. It is moments like these that fuel our passion and commitment to our mission, reminding us that every small step can lead to significant change.