The project aims to create awareness about diabetes and its complications among the general public and health care professionals.
Expected Impact
5,470 health care personnel will be trained in diabetes prevention, diagnosis and care
250,000 people will be screened for diabetes
30,000 people with diabetes will be identified, counselled, referred and treated
A population of 2-3 million will be reached through awareness activities
Results at project completion
6,406 health care professionals & workers have been trained in diabetes prevention, diagnosis and care (1,369 doctors, 1,958 nurses, 2,021 health professionals and 1,031 others).
There are now more than 150 diabetologists practising in each and every town of the four districts compared to very few at project start in 2005.
Approximately 221,500 people have been screened for diabetes, diabetic retinopathy, refractive errors, diabetic foot, ECG, cataract, blood circulation problems in arms and legs at 1,290 awareness and screening camps held in villages and towns.
24,781 cases of diabetes have been identified. Identified persons with diabetes are counselled on diet, exercise, treatment and complications.
In four districts of Andra Pradesh covering a population of 15 million people, about 65% of the urban population and 40% of the rural population know about diabetes. This compares to 20% urban and 5% rural at project start in 2005.
Awareness to the broader public has been provided through television advertisements; distribution of booklets, posters and pamphlets about diabetes, covering a population of 8 million people. Health topics are covered in 7 local language TV channels 30 minutes daily. Each channel covers diabetes once a month.
Project details
Out of the 32 million people living with diabetes in India it is estimated that at least half of them go un-diagnosed and are unaware of the disease, its prevention and potential complications.
Over the past two decades R.R. Lions Eye Hospital has experienced an alarming increase in diabetes among the people attending their health camps. In order to address this problem, the Hospital came upon the idea of including diabetes awareness as a standard element in the camps.
Through a variety of awareness activities and training of health care personnel, R.R. Lions Eye Hospital seeks to reach out to the 10 million inhabitants in the state of Andhra Pradesh, offering diabetes information, training and screening.
Approach
The project targets the general public and a variety of health care personnel. The project is managed by R.R. Lions Eye Hospital but implementation draws upon a large network of local NGOs, associations, private companies and educational institutions.
Public awareness of diabetes, its prevention and complications will be raised through a combination of activities. These include press meetings, lectures at public gatherings, TV and radio shows, distribution of educational materials, display of posters, street plays.
In addition, a total of 1250 diabetes screening camps will be conducted. This will be done in partnership with local NGOs.
The health care personnel targeted by the project include general practitioners, diabetologists, medical officers, nurses, dieticians and diabetes educators. Seminars and workshops will be held for these groups and educational materials will be distributed. Pre- and post intervention knowledge, attitude and practice tests will be performed.
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