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India has 32 million people with diabetes. Diabetes is becoming a major public health problem, especially in the urban areas.
Chhattisgarh is a new state created within the union of Indian states. Raipur (pop. 600,000) - the state capital - is rapidly urbanising and like other major urban centres, it is experiencing a rising prevalence of diabetes. The city's emergence as state capital is likely to further increase this trend.
Approach
The project has a two-pronged approach, focusing on awareness of diabetes and lifestyle modification on one hand and early detection and improved control of diabetes on the other hand.
A lifestyle modification campaign will be launched addressing the broad public using TV and radio media, street plays, seminars and talk shows as well as posters, bill boards and pamphlets.
Advocacy with decision makers for providing facilities for lifestyle modification with the aim of reducing "at risk" behaviour will be done in work places and schools. These activities will include meetings with trade union representatives, school education authorities, senior politicians, representatives of municipal authorities and heads of various industries and institutions.
NGOs will be involved in the advocacy with decision makers and in the establishment of self help groups of diabetes patients and their relatives. The aim is to facilitate their lives with diabetes and prevent long term diabetes complications to occur.
In the area of capacity building for early detection and improved control of diabetes, 300 doctors and 1000 ISM practitioners and paramedics will be trained in Raipur by a team of 20 master trainers. This team initially receives training at the WHO collaborating centre at Chennai, India.
Facilities for screening of the "at risk" population will be established at 50 places in Raipur city. This will enable easy access for all to early detection. It is the aim that services should be available within 1 km of residence and during non-working hours in at least 50 % of the centres.
A tertiary care centre will be developed in the Medical College of Raipur to provide quality treatment of uncontrolled diabetes, diabetes related complications and rehabilitation. The facilities will be free to all below poverty line patients.
The project builds on the Danish development agency's (Danida) long term support to the health sector in the region.
A project steering committee will be formed under the chairmanship of the State Secretary of Health. Members will include the project coordinator, a finance advisor, a Danida representative, a member of the municipal corporation of Raipur, an NGO representative and a prominent Raipur citizen who has diabetes. The Committee will meet on a quarterly basis. | 
