Prevention and control of diabetes in indigenous population, Bolivia

Objectives

The indigenous peoples of Latin America are suffering from alarming levels of diabetes. In some indigenous communities, diabetes has reached epidemic proportions and is endangering the very existence of the communities. Throughout the world, more than 50% of indigenous adults above the age of 35 years suffer from type 2 diabetes.

The indigenous peoples experience a multitude of challenges. One is climate change, which increases their vulnerability by impacting the levels of production of healthy foods. Other difficulties faced by these communities in gaining access to health services are marginalisation and racism. In this context, indigenous peoples have the highest rates of non-communicable diseases due to lifestyle changes, primarily changes in diet, and in poor access to health care.

In light of this situation, intercultural policies, combined with other economic and social strategies, have been driving changes across all levels of society that are enabling other, different models for management of health, with the participation of the beneficiaries themselves, civil society and indigenous organisations as part of an approach based on Intercultural Health.


Objectives

Improve access and care in the treatment of indigenous male and female patients at risk and with diabetes in Bolivia, in the indigenous populations in Machareti, Tarabuco (Department of Chuquisaca), Apolobamba and Achacachi (Department of La Paz).

Approach

The project will be carried out in departments of Chuquisaca and La Paz, both with a strong presence of indigenous peoples, and will apply an intercultural and multisectoral approach within a global, regional and national policy framework. The aim is to promote healthy life styles and prevention among indigenous peoples in Bolivia.

Activities include:

Increase diabetes awareness in the target population through various events and channels. These include distributing materials, training traditional doctors, broadcasting radio/tv programmes and establishing networks of indigenous journalists, but also supporting trade of traditional foods, establishing school programmes promoting traditional foods and coordination with relevant UN agencies.

Training of both medical and traditional health care professionals involved with the indigenous communities through an intercultural approach to prevention, care and treatment of diabetes among indigenous populations.

Establishing a national partner network linking health facilities and the education sector in indigenous communities through collaborative agreements; strengthening the National System of Health Information including provision of statistical data on selected clinical outcomes of care to indigenous peoples with diabetes.

Implementation of research activities to expand knowledge about diabetes in indigenous peoples and to disseminate results through national and regional networks.

Hosting of a final workshop involving PAHO facilitation to share results and experiences of the pilot project with relevant organisations from five countries in the region and to discuss possibilities for replication.

Results at completion

At least 15,000 indigenous men and women reached through awareness activities
178 medical HCPs trained;141 traditional medical practitioners trained
1650 students and teachers sensitised
5600 indigenous men and women received technical assistance on healthy food producing activities