The project aims to improve the health related quality of life of people with diabetes
Expected impact
25 new Diabetes Mini Clinics (DMCs) and 4 new Diabetes Units (DUs) created
Training of health care professionals and community members: 95 practitioners, 84 educators and 15 project staff
Strengthening of the information and referral systems
Results at project completion
32 mini clinics (primary level), 5 diabetes units (secondary level) and 3 diabetes centres (tertiary level) have been established in six states (White Nile, Blue Nile, Sinnar, North Kodofan, Port Sudan and Gadarif). 21,000 diabetes patients were registered at 25 of the 32 mini clinics.
100 care providers (doctors, medical assisstants and family physicians) and 84 educators have been trained in diabetes programme management and diabetes health education.
Diabetes Health Information system (DHIS) from 4 states at health centre level has been established and included in the national annual statistical report.
Referral cards have been developed and are in the process of being implemented at the health facilities. A comprehensive diabetes management guideline has been developed in Arabic.
Meetings have been conducted with community leaders, diabetics and non-diabetics in the four states.
Awareness campaigns have been conducted for the general community, NGOs as well as higher officials from the health sector in the four states.
World Diabetes Day was celebrated involving state governors, ministers, ministry of health staff, NGOs and the sectors from the general population at the area.
Project details
Diabetes is considered a rapidly growing health problem and represents around 10% of all hospital admissions in Sudan.
Diabetes is currently gaining more concern in national health plans and resources. Increasing access to quality diabetes care and patient education, giving priority to high prevalence states, is the main concern of the national diabetes strategic plan.
Approach
The specific objectives are to improve the quality of health care and to raise public awareness on diabetes control and prevention through enhancing the capacity of the primary health care system and education of local communities.
The implementation of WDF03-061 had significant impact in strengthening the ownership at local and federal levels and also encouraged more partners to come on board with considerable contributions, specifically in support of insulin supply. Other states and local partners were successfully encouraged to replicate the model of the project.
Based on the diabetes prevalence, four states have been selected as implementation sites for this project; Sinnar in the southern part of Khartoum, North Kurdufan in the western part of the country, Red Sea at the eastern border of Sudan and the Blue Nile which forms the bridging area between Northern and Southern Sudan.
Major activities of this project include establishing of diabetes health care facilities, mainly diabetes mini-clinics, training of health professionals, strengthening health information and referral systems and education of local communities.
Development of health facilities is considered the backbone of the project.
The achievements gained during the implementation of the first project (WDF03-061) in 4 states will be consolidated. The expansion to 4 additional states (Sinnar, North Kurdufan, Red sea and Blue Nile) is highly needed to cover most of the high prevalence states.
25 Diabetes Mini Clinics (DMCs) and 4 Diabetes Units (DUs) will be established:
- 6 DMCs and 1 DU in North Kurdufan
- 7 DMCs and 1 DU in Sinnar
- 6 DMCs and 1 DU in Red Sea State
- 6 DMCs and 1 DU in Blue Nile State
In the 4 states, training of health care personnel will be conducted according to the national guidelines and protocols. During the two year project period a total of 95 practitioners, 84 educators and 15 project staff will be trained.
Diabetes Practitioners and Educators from the 4 target states will undergo a 1-week training programme combined with a 4-week attachment in accordance with the national guidelines and protocols. In addition, 15 personnel involved in the management of the project will be trained in health programme and project management.
As part of the project, a NCD risk factor survey will be conducted with WHO during 2007 in which diabetes is the first priority disease targeted. The survey is anticipated to contribute to the development of an epidemiological map of diabetes all over the country.
The referral system will be strengthened by establishing guidelines, referral plans and communication pathways and other material to be used by the mini clinics and diabetes units.
Education of local communities
In addition to the strengthening of health care capacity, health education of local communities through training sessions, home visits and local mass media will take place, targeting groups of the population living in the areas of the implementing health facilities. Most of these activities will be conducted through other partners, mainly local NGOs.
