SCALING-UP; Prevention, Diagnosis, and Care of Diabetes and other NCDs

Objectives

To implement a national diabetes-hypertension programme by expanding access to integrated high-quality prevention, early detection and care in all regions of The Gambia.

Approach

The proposed MoH-driven project offers a comprehensive framework for health system strengthening, building on past WDF-funded achievements. It features strong MoH leadership and a national multisectoral strategy with a costed action plan for NCD prevention and control, developed with Defeat NCD's assistance and launched in 2022.

1. Capacity building of HCPs and availability of quality service facilities to diagnose and treat diabetes and hypertension: expanding the availability of NCD services to additional 19 health facilities, designating and equipping a centre of excellence for diabetes care, training healthcare providers on the latest national treatment guidelines, and quarterly mentorship visits of NCD experts to all NCD clinics.

2. Strengthening health information management system: developing standard NCD indicators for integration into the DHIS2, reviewing and producing appointment cards/specific NCD registers, printing of patient folders and training data entry clerks, NCD clinic staff, and HMIS managers on data management.

3. Partnership, coordination, monitoring and evaluation: quarterly joint monitoring and supervisory visits to all NCD clinics, disseminating progress reports on NCD indicators through biannual media briefings, providing comprehensive project management and coordination, and conducting an end-line assessment of the project.

4. Community engagement and awareness: mass media campaigns, NCD risk reduction activities through "Walk4Health" initiative, annual World Diabetes Day campaigns, development of IEC materials, and community dialogues targeting district authorities, community leaders, and traditional healers.

Results at completion

- 25 equipped and functioning NCD clinics incl. a referral ophthalmology centre for diabetes complications for patients in all regions of The Gambia.
- 840 medical staff in total, including 210 doctors, 210 nurses, 210 public health officers and 210 community health nurses trained on the prevention and management of diabetes and its complications, incl. referral system.
- 100 labs and 100 pharmacy assistants skilled in screening and medication dispensation.
- 1,000,000 people reached through awareness activities conducted across the country (37% of total population).
- 300,000 people screened for diabetes risk factors with 30,000 expected to be diagnosed, referred as required and treated for diabetes.
- 100 staff trained in health information system data management.