ASHAs provide care to villagers, December 2017, 15-941Prevalence of diabetes in India is expected to increase even further, which underlines the need for empowering of diabetes management. The complications of diabetes place a huge burden on the individual and their families both physical and financial. Due to a lack of knowledge regarding diabetes complications, it is of high importance to increase awareness and knowledge both for prevention and treatment of such complications in the area of Karnataka. ObjectivesThe first time WDF was operating within Karnataka was in 2005 and later again in 2009. On these two projects, WDF05-142 and WDF09-469, WDF was working with JIVAS. In this project the focus will be to increase the quality of foot care in order to support affected families.
The first step, is both preparation and endorsement of foot care guidelines and education and awareness materials. All this is based on existing and recognised material (incl. ‘Step-by-step’) and the findings in the two previous WDF projects in Karnataka. In collaboration with Udupi District health authorities, a monitoring structure will be established and implemented. Furthermore specific health facilities are selected to be improved. There will be training conducted of doctors, nurses, CHWs (ASHAs) and other categories of health care/community level staff, who are working at primary level across the targeted district. To assess the outcome of the trainings, an assessment of skills, both before and after the training, will be included. The targeted clinics will be provided with basic and advanced foot care equipment. Once the improved diabetic foot care, at the targeted facilities, is established, an awareness campaign within the surrounding communities is rolled out. The campaign includes camps both for awareness and screening, where known diabetes cases and people at risk is provided foot care at primary level, and complicated cases is referred. A mobile unit is established which will handle foot care services in the outskirt doing awareness and screening activities. This will make it possible to reach a greater amount of people living in the most rural areas. Frequent monitoring and data collection will be conducted.
• IEC material produced• 136 screening camps conducted• Medical equipment procured• 358 nurses trained• 175 physiotherapists trained• 2161 HCPs trained• 11,970 people screened for diabetic foot• 113,941 of people screened for DM• 1,150,000 people reached through media• 20 foot clinics established