One of the most quality of life-reducing complications of diabetes is diabetic retinopathy as it can cause blindness.

The risk of blindness may, however, be greatly reduced by good blood glucose control and regular eye examinations. Yet, in Sudan eye care and screening for diabetes patients is non-existent outside the capital Khartoum. Combined with a general lack of qualified capacity for diabetes care, this does not auger well for diabetes patients.

Approach

This project will be implemented by the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Gezira in collaboration with the Integrated Management of Diabetes in Children and Elsaim Eye Hospital in Wad Medani. The University hospital has previously benefited from WDF support to a project aiming at establishing integrated management for children with diabetes (WDF06-167).

Initially, a workshop will be held with the aim of strengthening the already established partnership in diabetes care in Gezira, endorsing guidelines of diabetic eye care developed by the Integrated Management of Diabetes in Children and agreeing on a plan for health education.

Subsequently, 3 ophthalmologists will be trained in the implementation of the guidelines and interpreting eye screening results. The training will take place in Sudan, Egypt and India. It will be practical and include training on diagnosis, management and counselling of patients with diabetic retinopathy, using the best evidence of good care available.

In addition, 2 nurses and 2 technicians will be trained. The nurses will get practical training on care for patients with diabetic retinopathy as well as counselling and prevention issues to be used in health education. The technicians will be trained in collaboration with companies to ensure quality management of equipment.

Upon completion of the training, an eye care reference clinic will be established at the University of Gezira hospital in order to ensure eye care and screening according to guidelines for both children and adults with diabetes.

At the clinic, people with diabetes will be screened annually if no changes are detected. If changes occur, follow up will be conducted every 3-6 months and any required treatment will be provided.

With a view to increasing public awareness and to help patients better understand their conditions, health education campaigns and activities will be carried out. The public will be made aware about diabetes and diabetic retinopathy through programmes on local television and radio stations, and through articles in news papers. Brochures, booklets and exhibitions will be produced as a means to educate patients at health clinics as well as in community-based education programmes.

The focus of the activities will be to provide information about diabetes and its complications, tips for good control, prevention of complications especially diabetic retinopathy, the importance of early detection and treatment and issues for improving the quality of life for those who have already developed complications of the eye.