1. To establish a network of 43 ‘diabetes schools’ and strengthen these.
2. To train health care professionals on prevention and management of diabetes and its complications.
3. To improve the awareness and knowledge of diabetes and it complications among people in risk groups and people with diabetes.
Approach
Initially training and education units will be established and integrated into existing primary health care facilities. This will be done through the capacity building of health care professionals (HCPs) and the provision of IEC materials and equipment respectively. Teams consisting of one doctor and one nurse will be formed to be trained as trainers (ToT), certified as diabetes educators by the School of Public Health Management (SPHM) and each linked with an education unit. These units will provide quality training and education to patients and HCPs. A network will be established between the education units in order to facilitate information sharing and learning.
Cascade training of HCPs will be implemented through a training of trainers approach where certified diabetes educators from training/education units will conduct one-day trainings of HCPs from the surrounding primary level clinics. The HCPs will be trained in prevention, diagnosis and management of diabetes and its complications. Once trained the HCPs will provide basic diabetes services at primary level (screening supplies will be provided by MoH). A referral mechanism between primary clinics and training/education units will also be established.
Services, including diabetes prevention and care, bi-monthly patient education sessions and awareness raising will be rolled out by the training/education units. Referred people that are either at risk of or have diabetes will be registered at the units and trained in prevention and self-management skills.
Finally, monitoring and evaluation of project activities, including establishment of registers at the units, will be carried out and baseline and end-line evaluation of project outcomes will be done and also to be used for advocacy purposes.
Expected results
• 43 training/education units to be strengthened.
• Diabetes educator team with 42 doctors and 42 nurses trained (ToT).
• 672 HCPs from 350 primary health care facilities trained in diabetes prevention and care.
• 8,600 people with diabetes provided improved care.
• 8,600 people with diabetes trained in self-management.
Results at completion:
• 43 training/education units (diabetes schools) strengthened.
• Diabetes educator team with 42 doctors and 42 nurses trained (ToT).
• 760 HCPs from primary health care facilities trained by ToTs.
• 20,870 people with diabetes provided improved care.
• 13,699 people with diabetes trained in self-management.
