Cameroon burden of diabetes

Non-infectious diseases such as diabetes, are becoming increasingly important as causes of death in all developing countries. Work from Cameroon has shown the scale of the emerging burden of ill health due to diabetes and hypertension. In line with the World Health Organization's (WHO) global strategy for non-infectious diseases, this project focuses on new knowledge and strategies for surveillance, control and prevention of diabetes in Cameroon. Objective The project aims to lay the foundation for a national diabetes programme for Cameroon by creating a surveillance, control and prevention system. Approach The project focuses on 3 aspects, diabetes and risk factor surveillance, prevention and control. The national surveillance system will draw upon experience from the existing infectious diseases surveillance system. Data will be collected on the incidence of diabetes and the major risk factors in 4 sites in Cameroon. The WHO Steps-approach will be applied to allow international comparisons. The results of the survey will guide both efforts at control and prevention of diabetes. In the area of prevention a key element will be to influence relevant national policies and legislation. Focus is also placed on raising diabetes awareness using churches, schools and work places as venues. Training will be conducted with primary health care providers. Guidelines for the control and management of diabetes will be developed and introduced on a wide scale. Other activities will include systems for monitoring the quality of diabetes care, patient education materials, use of patient health records and improvement of the supply of essential drugs. The project has a specific component on diabetic foot problems. A diabetes foot care package suitable for Cameroon and similar countries will be developed and tested. The aim is to reduce the number of amputations. Expected impact The project is expected to result in the development of a national diabetes programme for Cameroon It is also intended to provide a model to be used for other non-infectious diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases Results at completion The first national survey for diabetes and major risk factor prevalence was concluded covering more than 8000 households in 4 sites with detailed interviews of more than 11000 people. 104 doctors and nurses at primary health care level have been trained in management and surveillance of diabetes and management of the diabetic foot  18 diabetes clinics have been initiated at the four project sites: 5 in Bamenda, 3 in Biyem Assi, Yaoundé, 4 in Cité de Palmiers, Douala and 6 in Garoua 753 diabetes awareness activities for people at risk and the general public have been conducted with a total of 34,545 people attending

Project data

Area Partner Project responsible Duration Project budget/WDF contribution Project number

Cameroon HoPiT Research Group Prof. J. C. Mbanya January 2003 - January 2006 EUR 1,341,400 WDF02-016

This page was last updated 3-4-2008 by sfh.wdf