The project's objective is to improve diabetes prevention and care by integrating school, community and health facility approaches to prevention, detection, treatment and rehabilitative care.
Expected impact
195 health care providers from 65 health care facilities trained in detection and screening for diabetes and improved maternal and child health nutrition.
130 teachers from 65 schools trained in weight, height and girth measurements for at risk detection.
65 bicycles and medical equipment to run the outreach program purchased.
65 clinics strengthened to provide foot care.
2,925 pregnant women attending reproductive and child health clinics screened for gestational diabetes.
26,000 children educated in leading healthy lifestyles and screened regularly for diabetes and other NCDs.
6,500 persons with diabetes reached by the outreach programme.
10,000 persons given nutrition education through nutrition clubs.
10 radio programmes on diabetes broadcasted.
Information, education and communication material produced and distributed.
Results to date
130 health care providers (49 doctors, 60 nurses and 21 paramedics) from 79 clinics have been trained in detection and screening for diabetes and improved maternal and child health nutrition.
270 teachers from 57 schools have been trained. 28,383 children have been exposed to primary prevention messages.
Bicycles and medical kits have been purchased and distributed to the 65 targeted clinics.
63 awareness camps and 8 screening camps have been conducted. 1,543 people were screened for diabetes of which 74 (4,8%) were diagnosed with diabetes.
3,615 women have been screened for gestational diabetes at the established clinics.
Project details
Despite the fact that non-communicable diseases like diabetes account for around 20% of deaths in Tanzania, diabetes is often - as in many other Sub-Saharan African countries - overshadowed by the attention on communicable disease like malaria and HIV/AIDS.
In a struggling and resource poor health care system it can be difficult to find capacity to provide care for people with diabetes. Alas, the consequence is that many people living with diabetes develop complications like the diabetic foot, which becomes an additional burden on the individual, the health care system and the society as a whole.
Therefore, prevention of diabetes and proper management of the disease is vital to avoid suffering for millions of people. Increasing capacity among health care providers to detect and treat the disease is highly needed along with activities to enhance screening and counselling.
Approach
The project is a continuation of an earlier WDF funded project "Diabetes care in the private sector" (WDF06-212), which trained health care providers from 79 private clinics in diabetes care. The current project seeks to further build skills of these health care providers and also strengthen prevention activities carried out in schools and communities.
Three health care providers from each of the 65 clinics out of the original 79 private clinics will be trained. These 65 clinics are running smoothly and have continued their focus on diabetes and related NCDs and are therefore deemed motivated and eligible for further training. The training of health care providers will mainly focus on the management of diabetic foot and gestational diabetes. In addition, one nurse from each clinic will be trained on maternal and child nutrition with special attention paid to prevention and dietary management of diabetes.
The trained health care providers will screen all pregnant women attending their clinics for gestational diabetes and ensure proper management and support to those who are found to have the disease. Educational materials will also be produced to be used in the counselling of these women. It is anticipated that 2,925 women will be screened for gestational diabetes.
Moreover, the project will continue further training of primary school teachers that were trained during the first project in diabetes and non-communicable diseases. In this project they will be trained to conduct physical measurements used in the screening of those at risk of diabetes. The teachers will then pass on this training to their students, who will carry out the measurements at home among family members. Around 26,000 school children from 65 primary schools will be trained.
The results of these measurements will subsequently be given to the health care providers who will conduct appropriate follow up and ensure that those who need it get counselling and care. The health care providers will be equipped with bicycles which will enable them to visit and be visible in the local community. It is expected that 6,500 people will be reached through these activities.
Finally, to further increase awareness about diabetes especially gestational diabetes, a radio programme on maternal and child nutrition, and prevention and management of gestational diabetes will be aired.
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