The project seeks to raise awareness of diabetes and improve its prevention, detection and treatment in Kabul.
Expected Impact
Diabetes will become part of the basic national health care package
Diabetes care facilities at 4 main hospitals in Kabul will be strengthened, including training of all staff in diabetes treatment and control
50% of people with diabetes attending the new diabetes centres will have access to effective treatment
50% of primary care physicians in Kabul will be trained to screen and diagnose diabetes
Early detection of diabetes will be improved
300 medical students will be trained in diabetes care
Results to date
The National Diabetes Control & Prevention Programme (NDCP) of the MoH has established three diabetes centres in Kabul at the Maiwand, Wazir Akbar Khan and Ibne Sina Hospitals. In addition, a diabetes centre has been established at the Herat Provincial Hospital.
24,755 diabetes patients have been diagnosed, treated and registered at the four diabetes centres. The patients have benefitted from free blood glucose tests and given consultations on lifestyle and diet.
20 nurses and paramedics have been trained in treatment of diabetic foot. A seminar on giving insulin has been attended by 16 doctors.
The NDCP has held a major training course. Doctors, nurses, lab technicians, and health workers of 30 provinces participated in a three day training course in all aspects of diabetes care.
A patient database has been developed and established.
Project details
Despite a high diabetes prevalence rate of more than 8% of the adult population, diabetes in Afghanistan goes largely undetected and untreated.
At present, the nation's diabetes prevention and treatment capacities are weak, inadequately resourced and lack a systematic model.
To address this situation, the Ministry of Health is spearheading the effort through this project to raise awareness and prevention of diabetes initially in Kabul.
Approach
Diabetes departments in four main hospitals will be upgraded to enable an acceptable standard of care. The involved hospitals are:
Wazir Akbar Kahn Hospital
Indira Gandhi Children Hospital
Maiwand Hospital
Ibna Sena Emergency Hospital
The involved health care staff at the diabetes departments of the four participating hospitals will be trained in the areas of diagnosis and management of diabetes and prevention of complications.
The Baqai Diabetes Institute, WHO collaborating centre in Karachi, Pakistan, will be drawn upon for expertise.
A "train the trainer" approach will be used to reach as many health care staff as possible. An expert group will be responsible for developing the training curriculum and materials in the local languages. Staff trained will include primary health care providers, nurses and diabetes educators.
Clinical practice guidelines will be developed to be used by the trained health care personnel in their practices upon completion of their training.
To build the long term, sustainable capacity to prevent, diagnose and treat diabetes in the Afghan health system, focus on diabetes will be strengthened in the curriculum for medical students.
The key problem of insulin availability is resolved through a donation of medicine by the Afghan Medical Relief Foundation.
The Afghan Diabetes Association, which is in its infant stages at the outset of the project, will be strengthened to provide a platform for dialogue and support for people with diabetes in the country.
