In Uganda, approximately 22.2% of women and 7.4% of men are overweight. As a consequence, diabetes is at an increase. In urban areas the number of people living with diabetes is expected to have increased more than threefold by the year 2025.However, the problems is not limited to urban areas; in rural areas the prevalence of diabetes is expected to double within 2025.Concurrently, Uganda ranks among the poorest countries in the world and around 35% of the population lives below the poverty line.The project seeks to improve the quality of life of people living with diabetes and preventing diabetes complications by creating awareness about diabetes, providing training and education, and improving diabetes care in the West Nile Region in north-western Uganda.
A previous WDF funded diabetes care intervention in Uganda, WDF06-180, strengthened diabetes care at the district hospital in Arua and established the Arua Diabetes Association; a branch of Uganda Diabetes Association.Arua Diabetes Association and the team at the district hospital diabetes clinic immediately took the initiative to further strengthening diabetes awareness and care throughout the Arua districtThe project will be implemented in 7 districts in the West Nile region in the north-western part of Uganda. The Arua Diabetes Association will lead the implementation while the Ugandan Ministry of Health contributes by paying staff salaries.The 3 main goals of the project are:• Training and educating diabetes patients, health care personnel and community leaders• Improving diabetes care• Creating awareness about diabetes in the communitiesInitially, health care personnel will be trained to conduct diabetes screening as well as management of diabetes and diabetes education. In total, 280 health care personnel including nurses, medical officers and community health workers will be trained.Subsequently, 7 basic diabetes clinics will be established - one in each of the target districts. At these clinics, blood glucose testing will be performed and it is estimated that 1,500 people will be screened for diabetes.In order to improve management of diabetes, the clinics will also constitute the basis for follow-up of already known diabetes patients, including checking for complications and referred to hospitals if treatment is needed. This brings the care closer to the patients and minimises the time and cost associated with travelling to the clinic for regular check-ups.In addition, education on diabetes will be given to people with diabetes by the health care personnel. The latter will not only improve management but also increase awareness about diabetes.To increase awareness about diabetes in the community workshops and seminars will be arranged for community leaders in order to mobilise them in the fight against diabetes. To disseminate information about diabetes and its risk factors among the public, radio talk shows will be aired on the topic. Finally, posters will be used to make the public aware of the services available to them at the diabetes clinics.
- 12 diabetes clinics were created- 4,000 people screened for diabetes and hyertension- 245 health care personnel, 205 diabetes patients, 140 community health care workers and 35 journalists were trained on diabetes care