Creating the Diabetes Awareness Program—Kenya (DAP-K) was a challenging yet rewarding experience. What might seem like a structured public health program on paper resulted from months of intense brainstorming, problem-solving, and creative collaboration between PH360 fellows.
From the beginning, we knew that diabetes was a severe health issue in Kenya, but we had to dive deeper into the local context to create a truly impactful program. Each of us brought different experiences—some with direct public health knowledge, while others had expertise in community outreach. Tanya Judd-Barnes, DPM, MPH-c, as Clinical Director, provided vital insights into diabetes detection, management and prevention. Fatmata Bah, PhD, as Lead Project Director, helped align our efforts with current research and policy. As Director of Community Outreach and Communications, Juhi Singhal, MA, focused on engaging the community and ensuring our messaging was culturally relevant. As Director of Monitoring & Evaluation, Nathaniel McGuigan, BS, developed a comprehensive evaluation plan and leveraged data to assess the program’s impact and effectiveness. As Director of Technology & Platforms Development, Sabrina Mansoor, BSc, utilized digital platforms to enhance our outreach efforts. Lastly, Saron Habtemichael, MBA, as Director of Strategic Partnerships, facilitated key collaborations that strengthened the program’s foundation.
Given each of these experiences and the groups goal in empowering individuals to make informed health decisions, we designed a program that incorporated various interventions tailored to the local context, including nutritional education, culturally relevant physical activity promotion, and regular health screenings. We had heated discussions about the best approaches at times, but we never lost sight of our common goal—to make a difference. The diversity within our team became one of our greatest strengths, requiring careful coordination and flexibility. Time zone differences proved challenging, with some members joining calls at odd hours, yet the dedication to the project never wavered. We learned the importance of perseverance as we navigated deadlines, personal commitments, and the inevitable obstacles of working on an international project.
What truly brought this project to life was our collaboration with local communities. As we developed DAP-K, we relied heavily on feedback from local stakeholders, which shaped many of our decisions. Their insights helped ensure our program was scientifically sound and culturally relevant. Hearing their stories—stories of families affected by diabetes—made the work personal, fueling our commitment to create a program that could truly make a difference.
The journey to create DAP-K was filled with learning curves, reminding us that behind every public health project, a team of passionate individuals is working together to tackle complex problems. The most valuable lesson in this case was that real change happens through collaboration, empathy, and persistence.