Diabetes education and awareness, Zimbabwe

Objectives

Due to the lack of knowledge on diabetes, many people with diabetes in Zimbabwe are dying. Access to information regarding diabetes is very limited as there is no existing education for diabetes available in schools or communities. Likewise, there are many people with diabetes who die without knowing the cause of death. Generally, it is evident that there is a need to create awareness to the general population in order to improve the living conditions of people affected by diabetes.

Objectives
The main objective is to strengthen access to diabetes care through education and practical advice in the communities where people with diabetes live in. Awareness will be raised on the effects and management of diabetes, by training healthcare providers, volunteers and peer educators in 8 districts of the Midlands Province.

Approach

Training workshops to educate people with diabetes will be conducted and organised by trained health professionals, volunteers and peer educators. Moreover, referral clinics will be established, with basic equipment to use for diabetes care and management of patients. Each clinic will have a register where all old and new patients are recorded. Clinical information for these patients will be recorded in the registers for monitoring and evaluation purposes.

Furthermore, public awareness programmes will be done at the clinics and at religious gatherings. MidDIG will organise these events with the aim of reaching out to 15 churches per month. Other activities such as, walks, races, sports tournaments, musical Galas and carnivals will be arranged where families, music artists, athletes and different stakeholders join to create diabetes awareness and receive information on how to manage diabetes. Overall, these events will take place at least once a year in each of the 8 districts by the awareness team.

Results at completion

240 healthcare workers trained
1042 Village health workers and peer educators trained as volunteers
Two training workshops conducted in each district
Basic diagnostic and care equipment established in 80 referral clinics
Workshops for patients and primary caregivers held in each referral clinic (7,173 patients and household members educated)
102 awareness campaigns conducted using various approaches (44,600 people reached)
Diabetes support groups created in each referral clinic