The rising burden of NCDs is rapidly affecting the African region, which at the same time is battling with communicable diseases. Eritrea is no exception, but the NCD control program in the country is young and faced with inadequate funding, lack of technical capacity and absence of policy and strategy. Thus, there is a considerable need to establish a surveillance system as well as a disease prevention and control program.The project aims to reduce morbidity and mortality from diabetes through an integrated approach.
The project is implemented by the Ministry of Health in conjunction with Eritrea Diabetes Association, the Community Based Health Committees and with technical support from WHO.In the establishment of a national surveillance system of NCDs, the Ministry of Health in Eritrea has already carried out STEP 1 and 2 of the WHO STEPwise approach for surveillance of NCD risk factors.The results of STEP 1 and 2 indicated that diabetes is increasingly becoming a major health problem in Eritrea. However, to obtain complete information on the prevalence of diabetes, the STEP 3 is conducted as part of this project. The STEP 3 survey will target 2,400 subjects in the six regions of Eritrea.The results of the STEP survey provide the policy makers with the requisite information to elaborate and implement a policy guideline and a strategic plan of action for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Both will be developed by a group of experts and a WHO short term consultant and adopted at a consensus building workshop. Subsequently, the guidelines are printed and distributed to health facilities in the country.National surveillance of NCDs is strengthened through equipment and training on use of data. This will enable the Ministry of Health to have continuous information on NCD risk factors.In all six regions, training workshops on treatment, prevention and control of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are conducted. One will also be held at national level. In total, the 13 training sessions comprising of 5-day workshops will build up the capacity of 504 doctors and nurses in the management of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.Finally, to raise awareness on diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in the general population, a communication strategy is developed and IEC materials such as posters and radio/TV spots will be produced and disseminated.A sensitisation seminar on the risk factors of diabetes will also be conducted in the six regions with the participation of local administrators, elders, leaders, teachers and managers of various organisations.
• Close to 900 general health care professionals from six regions of Eritrea have been trained on the prevention, treatment and management of NCDs• A WHO STEPS Survey (step3) on NCDs, prevalence and risk factors was completed• A National NCD Policy Document and a National Strategic Plan of Action 2008-2012 for the control of cardiovascular disease and diabetes has been developed, endorsed and distributed.• The WHO-PEN Protocols for health promotion, prevention and management of NCDs at primary care level has been piloted at selected health centres in the capital city of Asmara, which have been equipped with minimum diagnostic equipment and a minimum essential drug lists.• 48 general health workers from these selected pilot sites have been trained in the WHO-PEN Protocols.• Awareness material including educative pamphlets, television and radio spots with messages in local languages as well as posters have been produced and distributed to all regions.• Sensitisation seminars have been conducted in six regions to local administrators, community leaders and managers of various local NGOs.