National diabetes programme

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.   Objective The project seeks to raise awareness of diabetes and improve its prevention, detection and treatment 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. Expected Impact Diabetes will become part of the basic national health care package All staff at 4 main centres in Kabul will be trained in diabetes treatment and control 50% of people with diabetes attending the 4 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 Diabetes centres at the Wazir Akbar Kahn, Indira Gandhi Children and Ibna Sena Emergency hospitals in Kabul were officially opened by Afghanistan's Minister of Public Health on 17 April 2005 5 doctors and 8 laboratory technicians and nurses trained in diabetes care at Baqai Diabetes Institute in Karachi, Pakistan

Project data

Area Partner Project responsible Duration Project budget WDF contribution Project number

Afghanistan Ministry of Health Dr. Shokomand October 2004 - December 2006 USD 1,744,000 USD 452,056 WDF04-080