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Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a major health problem affecting the course of pregnancy and its outcome. It is one of the maternal morbidities that contribute to maternal deaths, stillbirths and complications during pregnancy.
In Sudan, information on GDM is lacking at all levels of the health care system. In order to improve maternal health and safe motherhood, GDM requires considerable attention in the coming years.
As a result, the Sudan Federal Ministry of Health, the United Nations Fund for Population Affairs (UNFPA) and the Sudan Fertility Care Association have joined forces in this project to improve early detection of GDM and prevention of its complications at primary health care level.
Objective
The project aims to improve the health status of pregnant women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and to achieve healthy outcome of their pregnancy.
Approach
The project is attached to the reproductive health centre at Alhag Yousif administrative unit in Khartoum. This centre is supported by UNFPA and the Sudan Fertility Care Association (SFCA).
The main objective is to establish the first GDM clinic in Sudan by the end of 2007. The GDM clinic is intended to work as a reference centre, located in the reproductive health centre at the Alhag Yousif RH clinic. Today this health centre provides services to over 140,000 mothers and children coming from the large Eastern part of Khartoum state.
The project provides training to 60 medical doctors and nurses on control and management of GDM and trains 30 educators on GDM screening and early detection at eight locations; in the Alhag Yousif RH clinic, at two hospitals and five health centres in Khartoum State.
Patients detected with GDM will be referred to the central GDM clinic for treatment and guidance before and after childbirth.
Educational material is developed in the form of GDM guidelines, posters and pamphlets for patients. Through distribution of these materials and by giving health education sessions in waiting rooms, knowledge about health, nutrition and diabetes is expected to increase in all eight locations.
The project also provides national registry cards for GDM patients as an integral part of the national diabetes programme.
Expected impact
- The first GDM clinic in Sudan operational
- 60 doctors and nurses trained in control and management of GDM
- 30 educators trained in GDM screening and health education
- Estimated 400 pregnant women with GDM controlled and thereby experiencing a healthy pregnancy
- Estimated 400 healthy babies delivered by women with GDM
- 20,000 pregnant women at eight centres reached through health education carried out by the trained educators
- More than 200 GDM cases have received follow up after delivery and more than 100 cases followed and monitored after delivery for more than 6 months
Results to date
- A GDM clinic has been established and equipped at Alhaq Yousif Reproductive Health Centre in Khartoum.
- A protocol for the management of gestational diabetes has been produced.
- Daily registry sheets and GDM client cards have been developed and printed in respectively 3,000 and 5,000 copies. GDM education material has been developed and printed in 5,000 copies.
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