The Middle East and North Africa Region is believed to have the highest prevalence of diabetes, at 10.9% and 1 in 10 adults allegedly have diabetes. According to IDF 42% of people with diabetes in Egypt, are affected by early-stage eye disease and 5% are classified as legally blind. An estimation of 34.6 million people with diabetes is likely to double to 67.9 million. It is therefore critical to take immediate action and tackle the risk factors fuelling the epidemic of diabetes throughout the region.The main objective is to reduce the future risk of diabetes in five zones in Upper Egypt. Five GDM care and control centres will be established and health care providers will be trained, in order to improve detection and treatment of GDM.
Creating awareness and improving treatment of GDM is part of reducing risk of diabetes in Upper Egypt. Five GDM care and control centres in existing outpatient clinics at government university hospitals will therefore be established. 50 healthcare providers will receive training in GDM and to ensure that awareness is spread, local NGO’s women self-help groups will also be trained.In addition, 4000 pregnant women with GDM will be screened at 24-28 weeks of gestation regardless of whether she is fasting or not using a 75g OGTT. Furthermore, these women with GDM and their off-spring will also receive GDM related health education and postpartum follow ups. Additionally, screening and awareness programs will be implemented and public awareness will be further increased by establishing health promotion materials.
• 5 GDM centers established in Upper Egypt • 7,141 pregnant women screened for GDM and received health education• 956 women diagnosed with GDM and received treatment and postpartum follow-up• 7675 people reached through awareness activities• 160 women from local NGOs trained in awareness about GDM and diabetes education• 60 health care providers trained• 10000 educational materials, booklets and pamphlets distributed during activities