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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.
Objective
The project aims to decrease the burden of non-infectious diseases in Dar es Salaam.
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.
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
- In 2008/2009 the municipal council will be funding several NCD prevention and health promotion activities, including sensitisation of 90 community leaders in Kimbiji, Vijibweni and Pemba Mnazi, 20 primary school teachers, and 20 community based health care staff. The workshops will focus on diabetes and hypertension.
- Municipal council staff and community members have been mobilised to participate in marking the World Diabetes Day on 14 November 2008.
The Vijibweni hospital diabetes clinic is operating.
- Two project team members have attended a three months course on health care management in tropical countries in Basel, Switzerland. This enables the team to be more efficient in the success of the project.
- March 2006, 30 community leaders of each of the 3 wards of Kibada, Toangoma, and Chamazi participated in a 3 days sensitisation workshop on diabetes and hypertension.
- January 2006, 30 traditional healers from 3 wards Keko, Chang’ombe and Mtoni were sensitised on diabetes and hypertension. The main objective of the workshop was to gain cooperation with them as partners in the area of care of service to these patients.
- In December 2005, 26 teachers from 13 primary schools participated in a sensitisation workshop with a primary objective of giving information on the preventive measures against NCD.
- In 2005, health education in the form of sensitisation to primary school teachers has been given to 18 schools in which 60 teachers participated.
- Health education protocols for cardiovascular risk factors including diabetes and study conducted in 2 health centres. The randomised study of the effect of health education on various risk factors for cardiovascular diseases was finished by the end of 2004.
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