Morbidity and mortality due to diabetes in Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) - as in the rest of the world - are on an increase. As a result, according to the International Diabetes Federation's Diabetes Atlas (2006), the prevalence rate of diabetes in DPRK has now reached 5.3% of the adult population.The reason for this increased prevalence can largely be attributed to risk factors such as lack of exercise, lack of a healthy diet, excessive alcohol consumption and smoking. 55.8% of males in DPRK smoke and 20.9% have a heavy alcohol intake. To counter this situation, the WHO Country Office in DPRK and the DPRK Ministry of Public Health have now joined forces to prevent the onset of diabetes including the prevention of risk factors.The objective of the project is to improve diabetes prevention and control in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
The project focuses on:• Provision of modern equipment for 3 hospitals• Development and distribution of standard diabetes treatment guidelines• Training of health care professionals - short term in country as well as 3-6 months fellowships outside of DPRKA project coordination and monitoring office at the Metabolic Research Centre will be established for the project management group. It will also function as lecture room. The director of the office will act as the linkage between the Ministry of Public Health, the WHO Country Office and other Institutions.Three health facilities (1 central and 2 provincial) will be supplied with appropriate equipment for diabetes diagnosis and management. In addition to providing the equipment, 9 technicians will also be trained on its use. Equipped with the proper equipment, the 3 hospitals will be able to improve the diagnosis and management of diabetes in their part of the country.Standard treatment guidelines will be developed and published based on WHO criteria. 1,000 copies of the guideline will be distributed among various health and research institutions. Six training courses on the use of the guideline will be conducted with a total of 240 participants. The participants will be health care personnel. The guideline is expected to significantly improve prevention, diagnosis and management of diabetes in DPRK.In addition to the in-country training on the use of the treatment guidelines, short-term overseas training will be arranged for 5 candidates. Three of the fellowships will be on epidemiological survey methodology and the remaining 2 will be on clinical management of diabetes.
- Evidence-based guidelines (1000 copies) for diabetes was developed, printed and distributed- Bio-chemical analyzers were provided to three hospitals. - Trainings for dissemination of guidelines were conducted (at least 240 trainees were trained).