In Nigeria 4.6 % of adults have diabetes and there seems to be a high rate of pregnancy associated with diabetes. Furthermore, with 46 % of people with diabetes being undiagnosed, the need for improved care to secure the health of society is greater than ever. With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) possessing a threat to future generations it is of great importance to expand access of GDM services. By expanding access and utilization of comprehensive GDM services in the Ondo State in Nigeria, the occurrence of adverse pregnancy outcomes are expected to decline.
Advocay is seen as an important factor to secure future healthcare in Nigeria. The project will hold to 2 advocacy meetings and 2 stakeholders’ forums as part of the project. The purpose, to undertake these meetings, is to have comprehensive GDM care included in routine services offered to pregnant women. Furthermore the aim is to ensure government commitment to establish such practise. In order to strengthen the care and secure sustainability, the poject seeks to fulfil the following initiatives.First, a primary objective is to establish GDM centres. By this, it is possible to help a greater amout of pregnant women who are at risk for GDM. Furthermore, strengthening of governments primary health care workers will help to carry out GDM screenings. Through these initiatives a much higher reach is able to be achieved. In extend to this, Health Care Providers will receive new training to further increase the quality of GDM services. This will be on one-day training courses with yearly follow-up training.Obstetricians will be trained over two sessions and follow-up training will be done in 2016 and 2017. All together this makes a total of 500 obstetricians, 180 medical officers, 500 nurses, 50 laboratory technicans and 20 dieticians, who will have received training. Besides treatment and HCP training, the project also suppliy health education and postpartum follow-up to women with GDM. This is done in order to prevent furture cases of GDM, since the people at risk now may be aware of the factors leading to diabetes.
- 15,000 pregnant women screened for GDM- 1,324 women diagnosed with GDM or HIP and referred for treatment- A total of 800 HCPs trained- 58 primary health centres strengthened to offer routine GDM screening and referral system established