Improving Diabetes Awareness and Care
Current Situation
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) disease is on the increase globally, with Sub-Saharan Africa estimated to have 20 million people living with the disease. According to the World Health Organization, this estimate is projected to reach 42 million by 2040. Based on the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimates, Nigeria has the highest number of people living with diabetes in Sub-Saharan Africa, with an estimated 3.9 million adults accounting for a fifth of all diabetes cases.
HSDF collaborated with the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) to implement a three-year Diabetes Awareness and Care (DAC) project in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Imo State.
Priority Public Health Programs
Our Approach
Our approach was to increase awareness on T2DM, improve access to care through training of health workers, and improve the availability, quality and utilization of T2DM data for decision making. We worked with policymakers and frontline health workers in 110 public and private primary healthcare facilities in Imo and the FCT.
Increase awareness on Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM)
Improve access to care by training health workers
Improve availability, quality, and utilization of T2DM data for decision-making
Results
The project has achieved the following in both states:
- Reached more than 709,238 persons with awareness messages
- Screened approximately 79,174 persons
- Trained 220 health workers
- Formed 20 health clubs in 20 secondary schools
- Educated 528 teachers (138 in Imo and 390 in the FCT)
- Reached 2,483 children/youths (1073 in Imo and 1,410) with awareness messages on T2DM
- Developed a national training guideline on T2DM