Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for the majority of deaths in Azerbaijan. The national prevalence of diabetes is 7%, but data is extremely unreliable and it is conceivable that the actual prevalence may be higher. There is a profound lack of knowledge about diabetes prevention and management both among the general population and health care professionals, consequently, management is poor and rates of diabetes complications high. Apart from poor working conditions and low salaries, most health care professionals are insufficiently trained on chronic diseases such as diabetes and do not have the necessary skills required for managing chronic conditions. To make matters worse, there is very little focus on health promotion. A number of initiatives were taken by the MoH through the State Programme for Diabetes from 2005-2009 to raise awareness and improve access to care. However, many of the elements of the programme were not implemented as intended. A new programme will be developed in 2011. There is a need to support health care professionals to the extent that they are able to educate patients on how to self-manage diabetes and prevent complications.The aim of the project is to improve self management of diabetes and healthy living among people with or at risk of diabetes in the following cities of Azerbaijan: Baku, Ganja, Mingechevir, Sumgayit, Shirvan, Shaki and Lankaran.
The project is coordinated by the NGO Azerbaijan Diabetes Society (ADS) in collaboration with the Public Health and Reforms Centre (PHRC) within the Ministry of Health (MoH). The project seeks to prevent diabetes and associated complications through promotion of healthy lifestyles along with improvement in knowledge and practical skills among health care professionals, people living with diabetes and people at risk of diabetes. The project will establish six diabetes schools in existing regional primary medical institutions. In addition, a Head Diabetes School will be established in the capital city, Baku. The purpose of the schools is to improve access to information by distributing IEC materials as well as providing education and counselling to patients and people at risk. Each school is expected to educate 165 people with diabetes and 150 people at risk every year. A team of two physicians and two nurses from each of the seven schools will receive an intensive two-week training of trainers course (ToT) on prevention and management of diabetes and complications. Each team of ToTs will in turn train fifteen physicians and thirty nurses from each region per year, creating a snow ball effect disseminating knowledge and skills. Health promotional IEC materials developed on the basis of IDF resources, PHRS clinical protocols and WHO fact sheets will be distributed at the schools. ADS is responsible for the training component while the PHRC will be running the diabetes schools. Since the schools are a part of the public health care system, patient education and counselling will continue, with support from the 2011-2015 National Diabetes Programme, after completion of the project. The impact of the project in terms of knowledge levels will be assessed by distributing questionnaires to people with and at risk of diabetes in the districts of Lankaran and Sumgait before project start and after its completion.
• 7 Diabetes Schools established in existing medical institutions• Training materials for promoting healthy lifestyle and management of diabetes and its complications developed• 14 doctors and 14 nurses were trained• 105 physicians and 210 nurses trained• 1,155 diabetes patients educated in self management• 1,050 people at risk of diabetes educated in diabetes prevention• Final assessment was conducted involving 1,000 people