Diabetes Mobile Unit

Programme overview

The global prevalence of obesity and diabetes is increasing worldwide across the age spectrum, including children and adolescents (individuals <18 years of age). Obesity is a major contributing factor that increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in adults and children.

The Diabetes Mobile Unit (DMU) programme was established in 2012. It is a joint project between the Bahrain Diabetes Society (BDS) and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) Medical University of Bahrain. It is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Manama and implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The project partners and the Higher Education Council (HEC) approved the programme.

The DMU programme aims to empower children to adopt a health-conscious mindset and lead a healthy, balanced lifestyle to minimise the risk of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes. In September 2024, the DMU was awarded the First Place as Best Bahraini Voluntary Project in the 14th His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa Award for Voluntary Work.

The programme is aligned with RCSI’s three strategic pillars aiming to enhance learning and teaching, research, and community engagement and services.

Learning and teaching goals

  1. Develop innovative learning and teaching strategies and tools in partnership with RCSI students and alumni to promote the health and wellbeing of children, their families, and the community.
  2. Promote interprofessional learning and teaching experiences for RCSI students and staff.
  3. Engage RCSI students in experiential learning activities to enhance the development of key attributes within the graduate profile that are essential for their future career success.

Community engagement and service goals

  1. Enhance and expand partnership opportunities with stakeholders to promote the health and wellbeing of children, their families, and the community.
  2. Conduct school visits and awareness events to empower children, their families and the community to adopt a health-conscious mindset and lead a healthy, balanced lifestyle to reduce the risk of obesity and diabetes.
  3. Collaborate with stakeholders to conduct diabetes self-care management education activities and workshops.

Research goals

  1. Develop research opportunities for RCSI staff, students, alumni, and external partners within the DMU project.
  2. Collaborate with stakeholders to conduct studies aimed at determining the level of achievement of project objectives, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability.

The DMU educational programme

In 2012, the School of Nursing and Midwifery (SON&M) and the community engagement office at RCSI Medical University of Bahrain collaborated with the Bahrain Diabetes Society (BDS) to develop the DMU educational programme. This programme is embedded in the undergraduate BSc (Hons) nursing curriculum. In 2023, the programme was re-launched in alignment with RCSI’s strategies to promote Interprofessional Learning (IPL) and Student Engagement and partnership (StEP).

Meet the DMU team

  • Ms. Danah Smith, Lecturer in Nursing, SON&M, leads the DMU Learning and Teaching Pillar.
  • Dr. Maryam Alaradi, Senior Lecturer in Nursing, SON&M, leads the DMU Research Pillar.
  • Mr. Fadi Ghosn, Head of Recognition, Careers & Alumni and Community Engagement, and Ms. Amna Almuhandis, Community Outreach Specialist, leads the DMU Community Engagement Pillar.
  • Other volunteer RCSI staff
  • Volunteer students from the SON&M and the School of Medicine (SOM).
  • RCSI Alumni

Upon enrollment in the programme, all volunteers must attend a DMU train-the-trainer workshop delivered by the DMU faculty, alumni and senior students who are registered in the programme.

DMU school visits and other events

The DMU team visits government and private primary schools in Bahrain to deliver the programme to schoolchildren through interactive educational activities. The Community Outreach Specialist coordinates the school visits in collaboration with the MOE, and private school administrations.

The DMU programme participates in awareness campaigns organized by the BDS, such as World Diabetes Day events and the Annual Shurooq Camp for Children with type 1 diabetes. The programme also supports other national health awareness campaigns organized by the MOH and other community partners.

For Further Information, please send your request to communityengagement@rcsi-mub.com. To remain updated on the activities of the Diabetes Mobile Unit, please follow the dedicated Instagram page