The project seeks to improve diabetes and diabetic foot care in Kosovo.
Expected impact
6 regional diabetes centres established
60 doctors and 120 nurses trained in diabetology
2 podiatry centres established
12 doctors and 24 nurses trained in diabetic foot treatment and care
6,000 people with diabetes have received diabetes education
Treatment protocols, education materials and a diabetes website developed and launched
Results at project completion
Six regional diabetes centres have been established in Gjakova, Gjilani, Peja, Prizreni, Ferzaj and Pristina.
60 doctors and 120 nurses have been trained in diabetology.
12 doctors and 24 nurses have been trained in diabetic foot.
Two podiatry centres are being established in Prizren and Gjakova. 1,500 patients have been treated at these clinics.
6,000 people have been educated at the established diabetes centres.Clinical guidelines for type I, II and for gestational diabetes have been edited and printed in Albanian and English.
Educational material for patients and health care personnel have been edited and printed.
Awareness campas were conducted during World Diabetes Day celebrations on 14 November in Gjakova in 2009 and 2010 with several hundred participants.
Project details
In general, the quality of health services, including diabetes care, has suffered significantly in Kosovo as a consequence of the conflict which harried the region from 1989 to 1999.
Since 2000, local institutions have initiated improvements of the health care situation in cooperation with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), however, much remains to be done in order to ensure quality care to people with diabetes.
Approach
This project will be implemented in collaboration among a number of partners, including the Diabetes Association Gjakova, the Ministry of Health, the National Board for Diabetes and the Family Doctors Association. The Diabetes Association will lead the implementation process.
The project includes components at both the primary, secondary and tertiary level of the health care system.
At the primary level, the project will be implemented at main family health centres in 6 regions in Kosovo. The plan is to establish 6 regional diabetes centres. The centres will function within the framework of the family medicine centres, providing education, information and treatment to people with diabetes.
In order to perform these tasks at the diabetes centres, 60 doctors and 120 nurses will receive 6 weeks of training in diabetes care.
Once the diabetes centres are in place, 6,000 people with diabetes will attend a 1-week course providing them with education and information about diabetes. At the same time they will receive appropriate treatment for their diabetes.
In addition to the education of people with diabetes, mass education of the communities involving local, regional and national media will be carried out. The main focus will be on healthy lifestyle and risk factors for developing diabetes. An important element of this community approach will be the creation of a website on which education materials, data on diabetes, medication possibilities, questions for the doctor etc. will be available.
At the secondary level of care, the regional hospitals will be targeted. Attention at this level will primarily be given to podiatry care and gestational diabetes. As a result, doctors working at the regional level will be responsible for the provision of education to patients with gestational diabetes or diabetic foot problems.
Twelve doctors and 24 nurses will attend a 2-month training programme on care and treatment of diabetic foot problems. Subsequently, 2 centres for podiatry treatment will be established and equipped. These centres will provide education and treatment of diabetic foot problems with the aim of reducing the amputation rate.
Finally, the activities targeting the tertiary level comprise preparation of the education materials and compilation and approval of a national protocol for the treatment of diabetes. These activities will be carried out by the National Board for Diabetes.
/Kosovo_thumb.jpg)
