The goal of the project is to improve community awareness of preconception care and prevention of non-communicable diseases, particularly gestational diabetes (GDM), among newly married couples in Bangladesh through religious leaders.
Three groups are targeted by this project: Newly married couples, religious leaders (Kazis)and health service providers (physicians, nurses and educators).In the preparatory phase, a 6-member expert advisory committee will be established. It will include specialists within diabetes, gynaecology, nutrition, a member of the association of Kazis and representation from relevant ministries. In this phase project implementation, planning and recruitment of personnel will begin, as well as the development of culturally and religiously appropriate material concerning health before pregnancy.In the training component, a curriculum will be developed by the Diabetic association of Bangladesh (BADAS) for the training of religious leaders. It will include information on pre-conception and family planning, diabetes incl. risk factors, screening, GDM and other NCDs, lifestyle counselling and immunisation.The curriculum for health care personnel includes; pre-conception counselling and family planning, DM/GDM management, risk factors, screening, lifestyle measures, immunisation and anthropometric measurements and referral.To ensure service delivery, pre-conception services and counselling at hospitals and clinics will be established. Screening, care and referral by trained health care personnel will also be organised, and the trained religious leaders will organise pre-conception counselling.Awareness activities include: community awareness regarding pre-conception counselling and prevention of NCDs including diabetes, the development of a website for preconception care and prevention of NCDs, and a mobile help line that also includes antenatal care.
Strengthen preconception care service in community level which will extend the maternal, neonatal and child health continuum of care and thus contributes to MDGs 4 and 5; empowers women and thus contributes to MDG 3.Early screening of cardiometabolic risk factors including under/over nutrition, hypertension, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes and appropriate prevention care service will be expanded and made available at community level.Four hundred (400) religious leaders will receive intensive training on preconception care and prevention of NCDs particularly GDM.Three hundred (300) health service providers will receive intensive training on preconception care and prevention of NCDs particularly GDM.Start 50 preconception care corners in the diabetes centres/ hospitals of BADAS and its AAs.Around thirty thousand (30,000) eligible couples will receive information on preconception care and GDM prevention through religious leaders.Three million general people will receive information on NCDs particularly GDM prevention through religious leaders.Around 30,000 women will receive preconception, antenatal and GDM care and prevention information from 100 preconception care corners during project period.Four (4) television and four (4) radio talk shows with religious leaders and health care providers will be arranged for improving community awareness.Develop education toolkits including guidebooks (30,000), leaflets (5,000), posters (2000), flip chart (100), consensus guideline (300), training manual (800), one (1) mobile helpline and one (1) web site for promoting preconception care and prevention of NCDs particularly GDM. One page with GDM prevention and care messages will be added in BADAS patient guidebook (50,000).Establish referral system between religious leaders and diabetes centres/ hospitals of BADAS.Develop a national consensus guidelines on preconception care to improve maternal and child health and also to prevent NCDs particularly GDM.