Much like other developing regions in Sudan, services for children with type 1 diabetes are primarily hospital-based. A lack of awareness among healthcare professionals, parents, and school teachers leads to inadequate diabetes management. This results in poor disease control and many children being admitted to hospitals in keto-acidosis, often with fatal outcomes. The absence of national treatment guidelines compounds the issue, as each healthcare facility treats children with type 1 diabetes inconsistently.The project's primary goal is to enhance the care provided to children with type 1 diabetes through their schools, families, and the healthcare system. The aim is to reduce the high rate of children admitted to hospitals with keto-acidosis.To improve care for children with type 1 diabetes by involving schools, families, and the healthcare system, ultimately reducing hospital admissions due to keto-acidosis.
The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Geziera will spearhead the project, collaborating with various partners, including the Federal Ministry of Health, the State Ministry of Health in Geziera State, Wad Medani Paediatrics Hospital (WMPH), the Rahma Charity Society, and the Ministry of Education in Geziera State. The project encompasses four main components:1. Establishment of a Specialized Referral Diabetes Unit: WMPH will house this unit, which takes an integrated approach to providing clinical, nutritional, educational, and psychological care for children with diabetes. An information system will ensure that patient records follow children referred from mini-clinics.2. Training of Healthcare Professionals: Healthcare professionals at WMPH will receive training in line with the standards set by the International Diabetes Federation.3. Training of School Teachers: School teachers will undergo training to equip them with a basic understanding of diabetes, how to support affected children, and how to manage the disease within a school setting.4. Education for Children and Caretakers: Children attending regular follow-up sessions at the diabetes clinic, along with their mothers or caretakers, will receive monthly training sessions covering insulin storage, diet, physical activity, and daily management of the condition.Medical students from the University of Geziera will incorporate diabetes education into their regular health programs within the communities, spreading awareness to the families of affected children and their local communities.
- Training of 200 school teachers- Training of 100 healthcare providers, including doctors, medical assistants, dieticians, and pediatric psychologists- Improved diabetes care for 1,500 children- Establishment of a reference pediatric diabetes clinic at WMPH- Implementation of an information system and nutritional unit at the reference clinic