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Diabetes used to be viewed as a rare disease in Africa. In the last 30 - 40 years this situation has changed.
Diabetes is now regarded as a major health problem and challenge throughout the continent. Westernisation and urbanisation have led to a greatly increased occurrence of diabetes in Africa - an increase which WHO and IDF estimates will continue in the coming 30 years.
The rate at which new cases of diabetes emerge poses a serious burden on African countries already stretched to the limit by common life-threatening infections such as malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.
The development of a standardised diabetes education curriculum to be used by individual countries and institutions in Africa to conduct their own training programmes is a step in alleviating part of that burden.
Objective
The project aims to develop a standard diabetes education curriculum to improve the quality of diabetes care in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Approach
IDF Africa Region has taken the lead to address the issue of the standard of care for people living with diabetes in Africa. At present, 10 countries participate in the project, including Tanzania, Cameroon, Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique, Senegal, Togo, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Ivory Coast. Democratic Republic of Congo may join in the near future.
Taking into account the socio-economic differences within the Sub-Saharan region, the task force aims to develop a standard diabetes education programme for diabetes educators. The core curriculum will be produced in English, French, Portuguese and Kiswahili.
The purpose is to ensure that the expertise of the diabetes educators is up to date and at an acceptable level.
A standard patient education programme focusing on improving patient knowledge, self-management and care will also be developed. This programme will be used by the diabetes educators in their training of people living with diabetes.
The project trains diabetes educators from the participating countries, who will subsequently disseminate their knowledge and expertise at local level.
Expected impact
- Diabetes education should be generally accepted as an integral part of diabetes care in the Sub-Saharan region
- The project is also expected to result in an increased awareness of diabetes among authorities, medical professionals, people living with diabetes and the general public
Results to date
- The “Diabetes Education Training Manual” was published June 2007 and can be downloaded in PDF format here - language versions in French and Portuguese will be available soon
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