In the general population in Yemen the awareness of diabetes is lacking, and due to that, severe complications, like the diabetic foot ulcer, develops often, With only two diabetes centres, lack of resources, knowledge and skills among health care professionals many people living with diabetes not properly treated.The aim of this project is to establish a diabetes foot care clinic in Aden and train health care providers in diabetes foot care.It is planned to screen diabetes patients for foot problems, educate and raise awareness of diabetes complications among patients and in the general population.
The activities are conducted according to guidelines of the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot Editorial Board. The existing Aden Diabetic clinic is a key player in the 4 concurrent elements in the project.Aden Diabetic clinic will be equipped and utilised for foot care clinic. The care will be done by medical specialist working at the Aden Diabetic clinic. Daily 10-20 diabetic patients will be examined, receive comprehensive medical care and given a risk category telling what follow-up is needed. Health education will be given individually and in groups.The Aden diabetes centre will conduct a training course for 150 health care providers and doctors. The training is practical and theoretical and executed by experts from the Aden Diabetes centre and Al-Gamhouria hospital. The doctors and nurses attending will be from several hospitals and health centres in Aden.An important undertaking to reduce the severe complication is to detect the cases early. To meet this requirement, foot examinations will be carried out in Aden diabetes centre. Screening camps will be performed to diabetic patients in densely populated areas in Aden. When screening, a risk stratification will be done patients will be referred directly to follow-up by a health professional.The Diabetic Centre will give health education a high priority and make sure to include prevention, self-examination and treatment.
• 1 diabetes foot clinic established• 102 doctors and 54 nurses trained within diabetes foot care• 1500 patients screened for diabetes foot problems• Patients and general population reached with health education and awareness raising• Diabetes foot care made available for the first time in Yemen