Diabetes and Hypertension

Objective

The project aims to decrease the burden of non-communicable diseases in Dar es Salaam.

Expected impact

• A surveillance and monitoring system for non-communicable diseases in Temeke municipality, replicable to other municipalities in Dar es Salaam
• 2 specialised diabetes clinics established in Temeke municipality
• Early detection of diabetes and hypertension resulting from implementation of a prevention programme

Results to date

• Two diabetes clinics have been established at the Temeke District Hospital and at the Vijibweni District Hospital.
• The Temeke diabetes clinic is open five days a week and has 3,619 patients registered; The Vijibweni diabetes clinic operates one day a week and has 28 diabetes patients registered.
• Two project team members have attended a three months course on health care management in tropical countries in Basel, Switzerland.
• 86 primary school teachers from 31 schools have been given health education including preventive measures against NCD.
• 30 traditional healers from 3 wards Keko, Chang’ombe and Mtoni have been sensitised on diabetes and hypertension.
• 30 community leaders of each of the 3 wards of Kibada, Toangoma, and Chamazi have participated in a 3 days sensitisation workshop on diabetes and hypertension.
• A survey on diabetes prevalence has been carried out among 1,485 individuals aged 25-64 in the municipality of Temeke. The sample prevalence of diabetes was 4.3%, while participants aged 55 to 64 had a 9% prevalence of diabetes.

Project details

Diabetes and non-infectious diseases in general are becoming increasingly important as causes of mortality and morbidity in low income countries.  Work from Tanzania has shown worrying rates of stroke and the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes is increasing, particularly in the urban areas. Approach The project focuses on the Temeke municipality - one of three municipalities in the city of Dar es Salaam. The project seeks to build capacity to collect the relevant information for optimal planning in a context of limited resources in the public health care sector. A monitoring and surveillance system will be established to provide ongoing information on prevalence of diabetes and hypertension to allow for continuous adjustment in planning by the authorities. The project will improve the delivery of health care at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels of the public health care system through training and implementation of appropriate management guidelines and strategies. In the municipality, 2 specialised clinics for diabetes and other cardiovascular risk factors will be established; 1 at the Temeke hospital and 1 at the more frequently used Temeke health centre. Doctors and nurses for the clinics will receive training. As the clinics are established, a prevention programme will be developed and implemented at the community level. The prevention programme seeks to raise awareness and thus lead to detection at an earlier stage of diabetic and hypertensive cases. It also aims to reduce risk factors for diabetes and hypertension in the community. The project is closely coordinated with the "Diabetes clinics, Tanzania" project as well as with the strategy of the Tanzanian Diabetes Association. Depending on the results of the project, the project activities may be replicated to the remaining 2 municipalities of Dar es Salaam.

This page was last updated 1-26-2011 by wdf.pia