In sub-Saharan Africa diabetes-related mortality is relatively higher than the global average. Oftentimes, this is a result of complications caused by late diagnosis and poor care arising from a combination of financial and geographical difficulties in accessing basic care as well as lack of skilled personnel.It is estimated that of a population of 8.5 million, 500,000 people in Benin have diabetes. A much higher number of people are estimated to be at risk. Only two facilities for diabetes care exist, and they are both located in Cotonou, the largest city in the country.Poverty and illiteracy is widespread, and there is very little information about diabetes, its associated risk factors and how to manage diabetes - both amongst health care professionals and lay people. No national policy on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) exists.The project aims to reduce diabetes-related morbidity and mortality by improving access to diabetes care and by raising awareness about risk factors and prevention in the general population.
The project is a collaboration between the French Mission Care Development Organisation MicaDO and a local NGO OASH-ONG, with the latter acting as the operational partner in Benin. WDF has previously supported a project in Cambodia, WDF05-119, initiated by MicaDO, and this current project is inspired by experiences from the project in Cambodia.The project consists of three components each addressing areas to be strengthened in order to improve people's access to care and prevention services:1. The first component involves the establishment of two specialised referral centres located 15 and 120 km away from Cotonou, respectively. The main purpose of the centres is to perform specialist consultations and to conduct trainings and educational workshops. Patients will be referred from 20 health care facilities in a 30 km radius from the centres.2. The second component involves training of health care professionals. Each year 20 doctors and nurses from the surrounding health care facilities will receive training in diabetes management. In turn they will become trainers themselves, which will ensure a continuous flow of information and skills.3. The last component involves development of information and education materials and awareness-raising activities amongst the general population. Current lifestyles are characterised by ignorance due to lack of information about diabetes and associated risk factors. The hope is that the incidence of diabetes can be lowered by health promotion and enhancing knowledge about risks and preventive actions in the population.The Ministry of Health is involved in the project and plans to take part in the awareness-raising activities.Through a revolving fund medicine will be provided at affordable prices and delivered free of charge for the poorest 20% of the patients. This model will ensure profit generation and address equity issues at the same time.Due to increased access to care and to improvements of staff skills, the project expects to achieve an 80% reduction in deaths directly related to acute diabetes complications such as ketoacidosis, hyperglycaemic and hypoglycaemic coma and a significant reduction in risk factors.
- 2 specialised diabetes referral centres were established- 3 doctors and 4 nurses trained to equip the 2 specialised centres- 5 doctors and 54 health care professionals have been trained- Information and education materials developed- 90 awareness-raising sessions targeting the general population conducted- Free treatment for the poorest 20% of the patients