The aim of the project is to develop a sustainable district level model promoting healthy lifestyle and diabetes prevention in rural Andhra Pradesh.
Expected impact
At least 150,000 school children educated in diabetes and healthy lifestyle
Approximately 8,000 school teachers trained in diabetes education
Approximately 3 million people screened for diabetes
Approximately 150,000 high risk individuals identified and trained in diabetes self-care
Personnel at 176 NGOs and development organizations and 30 self help groups trained in health promotion
Personnel at 97 primary health centres and urban health posts trained in diabetes care
Results at project completion
119,743 school children, 9-15 years of age, have been sensitised and trained to assess the risk of diabetes through the use of the risk score sheet (Indian Diabetes Risk Score) and screen families. Subsequently 528,150 families (covering 2,403,978 persons) have been sensitised and screened by school children.
8,288 school teachers from 679 schools have been trained, receiving a broad introduction to diabetes and general eye care and how to screen for diabetes and risk factors
131,786 high risk persons have been screened for blood and urine sugar. 60% of the urine estimations were done by the school children and the rest were done by the field investigators. All the blood sugar estimations are done by the field investigator during community screening program.
183 branches of local non-governmental organisations have received training.
41,108 people have been sensitised in self help groups, through 1,184 training programmes.
113 primary health staff (physicians) from primary health care centres and health posts have been trained.
Project details
The incidence of diabetes in India is increasing. Currently, 35 million people have diabetes, and the number is estimated to reach 79 million in 2030.
A shift in the demographic composition towards an older population and changes in lifestyle have contributed to the increasing prevalence of diabetes in India.
In order to reduce the burden on the Indian health care system, models to deal with the increasing rate of diabetes are urgently needed. A strong preventive approach targetting young people will increase the chances of controlling the diabetes epidemic and thus improve the prospects for the coming generation.
Approach
The project builds on a comprehensive model involving lay persons, school children, people with diabetes, health care workers and personnel from NGOs and the development sector.
School teachers from 563 uppper primary schools will be trained in diabetes education. Subsequently, around 150,000 9-12 year old school children will be educated in diabetes and healthy lifestyle.
The school children are meant to act as health promotion ambassadors in the community. Each child is expected to pass on health promotion messages to at least 5 families other than their own. Besides health education, the children will also be trained to identify high risk individuals, to estimate urine glucose levels of these persons, and to refer people with diabetes to the health clinics.
Health care workers at primary health centres and urban health posts will be trained in diabetes care, and personnel from NGOs, development organizations and self help groups will be trained in health promotion. Assisted by the self help groups, people with diabetes will have their blood glucose checked on a regular basis, and free eye exams will be provided through the primary and secondary eye care networks established by L.V. Prasad Eye Institute.
Moreover, the project seeks to integrate health promotion within the school curriculum by using the learning from this project to advocate for a formal inclusion into the curriculum.
