The knowledge of diabetes is feeble among the Cambodian health care personnel, and an improved capacity in the area is needed.There is no basic diabetes training for health care personnel in Cambodia – this is even though there is an estimated 900,000 people with diabetes, according to a WHO study. Approximately 70,000 individuals of this group live in Phnom Penh.The established diabetology department in Kossamak Hospital is the only hospital specialising in endocrinology, nutrition and metabolic diseases in Cambodia.The project seeks to improve diabetes care by training healthcare professionals, facilitating access to medication for the poorest and raising awareness of diabetes.
The project consists of three components, each addressing an area to be strengthened to improve diabetes care in Cambodia. The first is aimed at training healthcare personnel, the second is aimed at improving access to medication for the poorest, and the third is aimed at diabetes education and awareness.The project seeks to ensure the sustainability of the diabetology department in the Kossamak Hospital. The Ministry of Health has created the diabetology department to increase its actions in education, care and treatment of diabetes.A local NGO, MoPoTsyo, specialised in health education in deprived areas in Phnom Penh, will select three persons among the diabetes patients to be social educators. The social educators will receive training and be responsible for awareness, education work and early detection among the lay population.Mica-Do (Association Mission Care - Development Organisation) will be responsible for all the training of doctors, nurses and medical students involved in the project.The project has a subcomponent which deals with two studies: One study on the link between diabetes and viral diseases such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, and another study on traditional diet with the aim being to define the necessary adaptations for people with diabetes.
• 20 physicians and 60 health care auxiliaries have been trained over 1900 hours• 5,000 patients received treatment at established/strengthened clinics or health facilities• 50,000 persons reached at awareness activities