Improvement of Type 2 Diabetes Care in Zimbabwe

Objectives

To improve diabetes care at faith based-health facilities in Zimbabwe.

Approach

Preparatory stage, incl.: a) Establish Steering Committee (EPN and ZACH), b) Seek ethical clearance and conduct baseline study on KAP, standards for medicine management, availability of medicine, dispensing practices among pharmaceutical staff and blood sugar levels on a sample of 50 patients, c) Review and print training/IEC material (developed by EPN and drawing on input from ZDA).
Train trainers for selected pharmacists from different areas of Zimbabwe to perform trainings on medicine management and dispensing practices in relation to diabetes care.
Strengthen diabetes care at selected ZACH health facilities across Zimbabwe through:

a) development and implementation of action plans for improvement of medicine management and dispensing practises including instructing of diabetes patients; and

b) Capacity building of pairs of pharmacists and nurses (3-day basic and 1-day refresher training) on diabetes management, dispensing practices in relation to diabetes medicine and inventory management. Nurses’ training focused on diabetes management and counselling.

Roll out awareness raising and advocacy activities incl. distribution of IEC material to patients and hold stakeholder meetings to advocate for the availability and quality of medication and diagnostic equipment.
Monitor targeted health facilities, carried out by trainers, to support implementation of action plans and meet with hospital administrators to advocate for prioritisation of storage and procurement of medicine.

Expected results

Baseline and endline survey conducted on pharmaceutical services, KAP on diabetes including WDF clinical indicators performed in 20 health facilities on a sample of 50 patients.
5 pharmacist trainers provided 3-day training on diabetes medicine management, patient counselling and dispensing practises related to diabetes
50 pharmaceutical staff and 50 nurses provided 3-day training and 1-day refresher training in diabetes and medicine management and dispensing of diabetes medicine.
50 health facilities develop and implement diabetes and medicine management action plans and are monitored through supervisory visits (est. catchment population 550,000)
Access to improved diabetes care for at least 5,000 diabetes patients
50,000 people, including 32,250 diabetes patients, provided information on diabetes through IEC material
2 advocacy meetings held for hospital management and key policy makers