The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) recently completed the Pacific Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (PDCES) training, bringing together 28 health professionals and community partners from Majuro and Ebeye to strengthen local capacity in delivering evidence-based Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES). Participants included doctors, nurses, community health outreach workers, public health staff, and community organizations, all united by a shared commitment to improving diabetes care.
Building on the momentum from the training held July 7 to 21, the Ministry of Health and Human Services (MoHHS) leadership and the diabetes program have committed to launching the country’s first coordinated DSMES program on World Diabetes Day, November 14, 2026. Implementation planning is underway to establish referral pathways, prepare educational materials in Marshallese, and integrate DSMES into routine diabetes services, creating a sustainable model that will expand from Majuro to Ebeye and the neighboring islands over time.
Left photo: From left to right: Leilani L. Peren, Director of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; Maika Bajo, Diabetes Program Coordinator and DSMES Master Trainer; Dr. Melliza Young, NACDD Pacific Islands Project SME; Dr. Dustin Bantol, Deputy Director of Public Health; and Edward Korneilus, Foot Care Specialist and DSMES Master Trainer.
Right photo: Participants from Majuro, from left to right: 1st row – Fancy Bearson, NP Taina Kubulala, Maika Bajo (RMI DSMES Master Trainer), Dr. Melliza Young (NACDD Pacific Islands Project SME); 2nd row – Anna McChesney, Lizabeth Jack; 3rd row – Andrew McChesney, Libon Jorkan, Alik Balos; 4th row – Dr. Kyle Lemari (RMI NCD Physician Champion), Rosie Jack.