It will be recalled that the President of AUN, Dr. DeWayne Frazier, paid a courtesy visit to Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital, Yola, on September 12, 2023, where he discussed collaborations between AUN and MAUTHY.
In realization of President Frazier's commitment, on Thursday, October 12, 2023, a research team headed by Dr. Jimmy Reyes of the University of Northern Iowa, on October 12, 2023, held an extensive preliminary session on the stages and methodologies of the research process in the AUN President's Conference Room.
The research team includes Dr. Reyes, Dr. Jennifer Tyndal from the AUN Public Health program, Dr. Solomon S. Dansanda from the AUN School of Basic Medical and Allied Health Sciences, and Dr. Roland Stephen, Primary Care Physician, MAUTHY.
According to Dr. Jimmy, who had been liaising with Prof. Tyndal and researchers in the AUN School of Arts and Sciences, while the research is ongoing in Shelleng, Mubi, Jada, Yola-South, and two other LGAs of the State, another team of researchers in the USA will be studying the same subject in Marshalltown, Ames, and Des Moines, all in the state of Iowa. He said this would enable both teams to share ideas and information that would enhance the effectiveness of the project and eventually identify and test culturally sensitive diabetes self-management interventions in both countries
The research plan consists of three phases: first, the Community Engagement Phase, which runs from October 2023 to December 2024. During this phase, surveys will be implemented among several LGAs in May 2024. Then, the Qualitative Phase will come later in the project.
Dr. Jimmy also pledged to provide equipment such as iPads and laptops to facilitate the data collection and processing processes and that every piece of equipment used for the research would be donated to AUN after the successful conclusion of the study.
Reported by John Abah