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Due to the human and economic losses it causes, diabetes has now been declared enemy number one in Burundi.
After a decade of civil war, the state of the health care system has been severely damaged. As an obvious consequence, the health of the Burundian people has suffered as well.
Today, nearly 1 in 10 people in the country have diabetes and diabetes is now the third leading cause of hospital admissions following malaria and AIDS - and added to this, the prevalence is still increasing.
Lack of knowledge about diabetes in the population has been identified as a reason why people do not seek health care in a timely manner so that complications might be prevented. Instead, diagnosis is often made once complications have already developed.
Approach
The local, Burundian NGO, DAGROPASS, will be working closely together with the Diabetes Association of Bubanza and the Bubanza Provincial Health Office on implementing this project in the province.
The project comprises different training and workshop activities with the purpose of improving the knowledge of the problems posed by diabetes - be it social, financial or health care related - and the necessity of a community response.
A total of 4 courses will be organised: 1 for people with diabetes, 1 for health care personnel, 1 for local leaders and 1 for people with political responsibility. Each will have approximately 30 participants and be of 5 days' duration.
Of the 30 people with diabetes participating in the training course, 27 will be women living in rural areas and who have lost their husbands in the war.
The course will train the participants to become peer educators and will include a presentation of the problems of diabetes, an analysis of the level of knowledge of diabetes and the attitudes and practices related to diabetes in Bubanza, guidance on how to provide education in diabetes and practical exercises. After completing the training, the 30 participants will be allocated to activities at health care structures in their home area.
In order to not only increase awareness but also improve diabetes care, doctors and nurses from health care facilities in Bubanza will attend a training course as well. In addition to a general introduction to diabetes in the country, the health care personnel will be trained in diagnosis and management of diabetes. Special attention will be given to matters related to work with diabetes in a post-conflict rural environment.
Local leaders - such as those responsible for grass-root organisations, religious leaders and dignitaries - play a significant role in the development of the community. Since they have daily influence both directly and indirectly on the community, they will be able to participate in the fight against diabetes. Their training will inform them about the attitudes, practices and problems related to diabetes in the area and also train them in strategies for preventing and combating diabetes and eliminating discrimination and stigmatisation.
Community members holding political responsibility will also receive training, since it is vital that the government take primary responsibility in preventing diabetes. The training will include many of the same elements as the course for local leaders though the role of the government will receive extra attention. | 
