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Brazil is experiencing a heavy increase in the prevalence of diabetes. According to the International Diabetes Federation the number of people with diabetes in the adult population is approximately 6 million, and this number is expected to double by the year 2025.
Recent years' efforts to increase awareness of diabetes in Brazil have been successful. The government has recognised diabetes as an important health issue, and steps have been taken to improve diabetes treatment across the nation.
However, despite allocation of resources to the area, many budgets remain underutilized. This is especially the case in medium-sized cities, where health care professionals often lack the necessary skills in diabetes treatment and resource mobilization.
Objective
The project seeks to develop and improve diabetes treatment in 51 low-income medium-sized cities in Brazil.
Approach
The National Federation of Diabetes Associations and Entities (FENAD) has joined forces with 3 other agents in order to improve diabetes care in Brazil. The other agencies include the two most important agents in the area of primary health care; the Ministry of Health and the National Council of Municipal Health Secretariats (CONASEMS), who are in a position to influence public policies at community as well as national level. The third agent; the Lions Clubs International Foundation will assist the project with its expertise in implementing retinopathy campaigns, and this way help the target cities to improve prevention of diabetes-related blindness.
In each of the 51 target cities, a 15-member multi-professional team will be trained in diabetes treatment and resource allocation. In addition to this, each of the 51 member teams are obligated to further train teams of health care professionals in at least 3 surrounding cities, totalling 153.
Furthermore, an ongoing retinopathy project funded by Lions Club will be expanded to the target cities. In connection with this, people with diabetes in 51 cities will be provided with services for secondary prevention of blindness.
Expected impact
- Multidisciplinary teams consisting of 15 health and administrative professionals per city will be trained in diabetes education, treatment and management in 51 target cities, whereby a total of 765 health and administrative professionals will be trained (phase 1).
- The multidisciplinary teams will train health care professionals working at primary care level in each target city (phase 2).
- In a minimum of 25 out of the 51 target cities, the training of primary care level health care professionals will be replicated to at least three cities/towns in the vicinity of each target city (phase 3).
- Ophthalmologic services to treat diabetic retinopathy will be established in a minimum of 25 of the 51 target cities (phase 4).
Results to date
- Multidisciplinary teams in 37 of these cities have been trained, totalling 555 health care and administrative professionals (phase 1).
- In 29 target cities, training has been extended to 3,891 health care professionals working at primary care level (phase 2).
- Five cities have replicated training to at least three surrounding cities (phase 3).
- Ophthalmologic services have been established in six target cities (phase 4).
- An estimated 1,510,381 people have benefitted directly or indirectly from the programme.
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