The objective of the project is to increase awareness of diabetes and to conduct diabetes screening in the Ferghana Region of Uzbekistan.
Expected impact
280 physicians from rural areas trained in new methods of prevention and treatment of diabetes
280 nurses from rural areas trained to provide psycho social support to people with diabetes
10,000 people screened for diabetes
Results at project completion
271 rural doctors have been educated on new methods of prevention and treatment of diabetes during 10 Training of Trainers seminars.
268 rural nurses have been educated on primary prevention of diabetes as well as on psycho social support to people with diabetes in rural areas.
12,336 rural people (5,927 women of child-bearing age and 6,409 teenage girls) have been screened for diabetes.
The prevalence of newly diagnosed diabetes among the surveyed women of a child-bearing age was 4.7%. Of them, 10-20% had already had specific diabetes complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy and polyneuropathy.
Prediabetes (glycemic level >7.7 - < 11.0) was revealed in 15.9% of 939 surveyed women and in 2% among 138 surveyed teenage girls.
A total of 15,000 individuals have attended seminars and lectures held at schools, colleges, lyceums, rural healthcare points, local community committees and other organizations in the Ferghana region.
3,000 persons participated in a Health Day for trained women, children, nurses and doctors in Muqimi Park, Kokand.
A media campaign has been conducted, including a TV advertisement named "Test yourself for diabetes". A number of other media initiatives focussing on diabetes in the society have been aired on television.
10,000 booklets about diabetes have been prepared and distributed.
Project details
Epidemiological data from Uzbekistan has shown that for every person diagnosed with diabetes, 14 people have undiagnosed diabetes.
In Uzbekistan, negative attitudes towards diabetes and stigmatisation of people with diabetes are common and can be attributed to an insufficient level of information about the disease. As a result many people - particularly women - with diabetes do not attend regular medical examinations for diabetes and for many, the disease has led to severe psycho social problems.
Therefore, there is a substantial need to reach people with diabetes and to disseminate information in order to overcome stigmatisation associated with the condition.
Approach
In order to reduce the stigmatisation related to diabetes in the target area, the project seeks to raise awareness about diabetes and at the same time increase diagnosis rates.
The project has five main components:
Component 1 seeks to develop and implement a strategy to reduce stigmatisation of diabetes. Working groups and round-tables will be conducted to develop and implement a strategy which will look at how different organisations in the most optimal way can coordinate their activities seeking to address stigmatisation of diabetes in the society.
Participants will be representatives from the local government, neighbourhood committees, NGOs and the mass media.
The second component focuses on training of health care professionals. During 10 seminars, a total of 280 physicians and 280 nurses from rural areas will be trained. The training of physicians will provide the participants with new methods of prevention and treatment of diabetes. The nurses' training focuses on the enabling them to provide psycho social support to people with diabetes.
Many people with diabetes go undiagnosed for years; often only to be diagnosed when diabetes related complications set in. Component 3 therefore concerns screening for diabetes and thereby increasing early diagnosis rates. A mobile diabetes unit is established and will carry out screening of 6,000 rural women and 4,000 rural children.
The fourth element in the project is an information campaign which will include social announcements on local TV, relevant articles in newspapers in the region and development and distribution of 10,000 booklets about diabetes enhancing a tolerant attitude towards people with diabetes.
Finally, an international conference with the title "Actual objectives of Diabetes" will be conducted with the participation of leading specialists.
The project partner is also involved in the implementation of WDF07-232 which builds on capacity established under the completed WDF04-095.
