Diabetes care promotion, Sudan

Objectives

Diabetes is considered a rapidly growing health problem and represents around 10% of all hospital admissions in Sudan. Diabetes is currently gaining more concern in national health plans and resources. Increasing access to quality diabetes care and patient education, prioritising high prevalence states, is the primary concern of the national diabetes strategic plan.

The project aims to improve the health-related quality of life of people with diabetes.

Approach

The specific objectives are to improve the quality of health care and to raise public awareness of diabetes control and prevention through enhancing the capacity of the primary health care system and education of local communities. This project builds on and benefits from the achievements of an earlier WDF-funded project in Sudan, Diabetes Care Promotion (WDF03-061).

The implementation of WDF03-061 had a significant impact on strengthening ownership at local and federal levels. Also, it encouraged more partners to come on board with considerable contributions, specifically in support of insulin supply. Other states and local partners were successfully encouraged to replicate the project model.

Based on the diabetes prevalence, four states have been selected as implementation sites for this project: Sinnar in the southern part of Khartoum, North Kurdufan in the western part of the country, the Red Sea at the eastern border of Sudan, and the Blue Nile, which forms the bridging area between Northern and Southern Sudan.

Major activities of this project include:
Establishing diabetes health care facilities.
Mainly diabetes mini-clinics.
Training of health professionals.
Strengthening health information and referral systems.
Education of local communities.
The development of health facilities is considered the backbone of the project.

The achievements gained during implementing the first project (WDF03-061) in 4 states will be consolidated. The expansion to 4 additional states (Sinnar, North Kurdufan, Red Sea, and Blue Nile) is needed to cover most of the high-prevalence states.

Diabetes Mini Clinics (DMCs) and Diabetes Units (DUs): - 25 DMCs and 4 DUs will be established across the four states.
- 6 DMCs and 1 DU in North Kurdufan
- 7 DMCs and 1 DU in Sinnar
- 6 DMCs and 1 DU in Red Sea State
- 6 DMCs and 1 DU in Blue Nile State

In the four states, training of health care personnel will be conducted according to the national guidelines and protocols. Ninety-five practitioners, 84 educators, and 15 project staff will be trained during the two-year project period.

Diabetes Practitioners and Educators from the four target states will undergo a 1-week training program combined with a 4-week attachment by the national guidelines and protocols. In addition, 15 personnel involved in the management of the project will be trained in health programs and project management.

As part of the project, an NCD risk factor survey will be conducted with WHO in 2007, in which diabetes is the priority disease targeted. The survey is anticipated to contribute to developing an epidemiological map of diabetes nationwide. The referral system will be strengthened by establishing guidelines, referral plans, communication pathways, and other materials to be used by the mini-clinics and diabetes units.

Education of Local Communities:
In addition to strengthening health care capacity, health education of local communities through training sessions, home visits, and local mass media will take place, targeting groups of the population living in the areas of the implementing health facilities. Most of these activities will be conducted through other partners, mainly local NGOs.

Results at completion

- 32 diabetes mini clinics (DMCs) and 5 diabetes units (DUs) established.
- Training of 100 care providers (doctors, medical assisstants and family physicians) & 84 educators
- D registries, recording and reporting forms are reviewed and updated and D referral cards were developed