Sanofi Partners Kano State Government to Improve Access to Diabetes Care

Global healthcare company Sanofi has entered into a two year partnership with the Kano State Government to improve access to quality diabetes care across the state.

The collaboration agreement was signed at the Emergency Operations Center in Kano and is expected to strengthen the management of non communicable diseases, particularly diabetes, which remains a growing public health challenge in Nigeria and across Africa.

Under the partnership, the Kano State Ministry of Health will gain access to affordable, high quality analogue insulin for patients living with diabetes. Sanofi will also introduce a digital health solution to support physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and community health workers in educating, engaging, and monitoring patients. In addition, healthcare professionals across primary and secondary health facilities in the state will benefit from targeted medical training programs aimed at improving diabetes diagnosis and care.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, described diabetes as a major concern for the state and the wider region.

He said the partnership reflects the government’s commitment to improving access to essential medicines and strengthening the capacity of healthcare workers, while supporting the state’s broader goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage and ensuring that no resident is left behind.

Sanofi’s Global Affordable Strategy Lead for General Medicines, Dr. Stephane Gokou, said the agreement aligns with the company’s long standing commitment to expanding equitable access to diabetes care in underserved populations.

According to him, Sanofi is already working with governments in several low and middle income countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa, through its AccesS Diabetes initiative. The program focuses on key stages of the patient journey such as awareness and screening, patient support, healthcare worker training, and the provision of analogue insulin at adapted prices.

The partnership comes at a time when Africa is projected to experience the highest global increase in diabetes cases. Data from the International Diabetes Federation shows that the number of people living with diabetes in Africa is expected to rise by 129 percent, from 24 million in 2021 to 55 million by 2045. In Nigeria, an estimated 3.6 million adults are currently living with diabetes, while more than 51,000 children and adolescents are affected by Type 1 diabetes.

Sanofi said the Kano partnership aligns with the Affordable Access pillar of its corporate social responsibility strategy, which also includes Sanofi Global Health, a non profit unit focused on increasing access to healthcare in the lowest income countries, and Foundation S, the company’s philanthropic arm.

Sanofi is a global healthcare company operating in about 100 countries, focused on developing innovative medicines and vaccines while placing sustainability and social responsibility at the core of its operations. The company is listed on Euronext Paris and the NASDAQ.