In Cameroon, the prevalence of diabetes in adults in urban areas is currently estimated at 6 – 8%, with as much as 80% of people living with diabetes who are currently undiagnosed in the population. Further, according to data from Cameroon in 2002, only about a quarter of people with known diabetes actually had adequate control of their blood glucose levels. The burden of diabetes in Cameroon is not only high but is also rising rapidly. Data in Cameroonian adults based on three cross-sectional surveys over a 10-year period (1994–2004) showed an almost 10-fold increase in diabetes prevalence. Objectives1. Strengthening of MoH monitoring and administrative capacity at all levels.2. Capacity building of national referral centres and of district level diabetes clinics. 3. Roll out of improved diabetes and hypertension care.4. Improvement of NCD surveillance systems. 5. Implementation of media based and community level awareness campaigns.
At the national level the Cameroon Ministry of Health will implement a framework and form a national steering committee with the purpose of strengthening the monitoring and administrative capacity of diabetes and hypertension at all levels of health care in the country. Following the establishment of the implementation structure the project will build capacity of national and regional referral centres for diabetes and of district level clinics within basic diabetes care through training of health care professionals, provision of equipment and enhancement of referral mechanisms. Trainings of HCPs will be carried out as follows: a 5-day national seminar for medical doctors from regional and reference hospitals, 3-day regional seminars for medical doctors from district hospitals, and 2- day regional seminars for nurses and other paramedical staff, as well as community leaders. Once the clinics for basic diabetes care have been established at primary level, these clinics will be further strengthened with basic screening and treatment of foot care, eye care and GDM. When complications cannot be treated at the primary level, patients will be referred to the regional referral centres. Through this setup annual community screening campaigns for diabetes risk factors, diabetes and diabetes complications will be carried out. These will furthermore be supported by the implementation of media based and community level awareness campaigns combined with patient education initiatives. Finally, an improvement of the national NCD surveillance systems and the roll out of a national diabetes registry will be done through the establishment of an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system at national and regional level, which will be linked to a paper-based registry at primary level.
70 doctors, 120 nurses and 55 other HCPs trained in diabetes and hypertension care.32,380 people screened for diabetes.10,464 patients treated at established diabetes clinics.5,366 patients in diabetes registry (including 795 T1DM patients).23 diabetes clinics established to provide diabetes footcare and prevention.112 HCPs trained to provide diabetes footcare and prevention.2,819 patients screened for diabetes related foot problems.