The knowledge of diabetes is very weak among the Cambodian health care personnel and an improved capacity in the area is needed.
Presently, there is no basic diabetes training for health care personnel in Cambodia – this is despite the fact that there is an estimated 900,000 people with diabetes according to a WHO study. Approximately 70,000 individuals of this group live in Phnom Penh.
The established diabetology department in Kossamak Hospital is the only hospital department specialised in endocrinology, nutrition and metabolic diseases in Cambodia.
Objective
The project seeks to improve diabetes care by training health care professionals, facilitate access to medication for the poorest and raise awareness on diabetes.
Approach
The project consists of three components each addressing an area to be strengthened in order to improve diabetes care in Cambodia. The first component is aimed at training health care personnel, the second component is aimed at improving access to medication for the poorest, and the third component is aimed at diabetes education and awareness.
The project seeks to ensure the sustainability of the diabetology department in the Kossamak Hospital. The diabetology department has been created by the Ministry of Health in order to increase its actions in education, care and treatment of diabetes.
A local NGO, MoPoTsyo, specialised in health education in deprived areas in Phnom Penh will select three persons among the diabetes patients to be social educators. The social educators will receive training and be responsible for awareness, education work and early detection among the lay population.
Mica-Do (Association Mission Care - Development Organisation) will be responsible for all the training of doctors, nurses and medical students involved in the project.
The project has a subcomponent which deals with two studies: One study on the link between diabetes and viral diseases such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, and another study on traditional diet with the aim being to define the necessary adaptations for people with diabetes.
Expected Impact
- 13 doctors and 30 nurses trained
- 30 health educators and 9 social workers trained in awareness and education
- 10,000 persons benefited of diagnosis and information
- 12,000 patients benefited from care and education
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