In 2003, the International Insulin Foundation carried out a Rapid Assessment Protocol for Insulin Access (RAPIA) in Mozambique.The RAPIA resulted in several recommendations for improving insulin availability in the country. However, the recently created non-communicable disease (NCD) group in the Mozambican Ministry of Health realised that the problems identified by the RAPIA have a broader relevance to NCD management than for type 1 diabetes alone.The RAPIA recommendations now constitute an integral part of the national NCD plan, which the government of Mozambique is formulating in collaboration with WHO.The project seeks to strengthen the Mozambican diabetes association and assist in developing a national diabetes programme for Mozambique.
Implementation of the RAPIA in Mozambique in 2003 resulted in several recommendations, which were subsequently prioritised locally by the relevant stakeholders.One key aspect of the RAPIA was the lack of an overall policy framework to guide and direct the improvement of diabetes care in Mozambique.The Ministry of Health and the Mozambican diabetes association, AMODIA, have asked the International Insulin Foundation to assist in developing a national diabetes programme to form part of the overall NCD programme.Another key recommendation was the need to revitalise and strengthen AMODIA, which, until the RAPIA, was only functioning in the capital of Maputo in the southernmost part of the country.AMODIA is keen to expand its services geographically to cover all Mozambique provinces to act as an advocate and counsellor for people with diabetes in Mozambique.AMODIA offices in Maputo and Beira will be equipped as part of the present project. Staff will receive training both in the area of diabetes education and the area of how to strengthen the association sustainably.The diabetes association in neighbouring Tanzania (TDA) has successfully grown similarly during the last couple of years. TDA has agreed to share with AMODIA the lessons learned and the pros and cons of this process.Clinical practice guidelines for the management of diabetes form a central part of improving diabetes care in Mozambique. IDF Africa is finalising Clinical practice guidelines and a diabetes education manual funded by WDF specifically for the African continent.These guidelines will be available in Portuguese and be distributed. Healthcare professionals in Mozambique will be trained in the use of the guidelines.
• Developed the first National NCD Strategy• IDF Africa guidelines translated and adapted to Mozambican context• 3 branches of the Mozambican Diabetes Association (AMODIA) was improved with 4 more in early stages of development, and an increase in membership from 2003 to 2010 by a factor of 50.• Improved access to diagnostic tools