By Beaven Dhliwayo.
Harare, Zimbabwe. (News Of The South) – Zimbabwe Diabetic Association ZDA) in partnership with Novartis International has successfully trained healthcare providers from the public and private hospitals and medical staffs from the uniformed forces to equip them with necessary skills and knowledge to effectively deal with non-communicable diseases with diabetes and hypertension being the main subject, Deputy Minister for Health and Childcare, Dr A Aldrin Musiiwa has said.
Globally it is estimated that 5.1 million people aged between 20 and 79 died from diabetes in 2013 and it is estimated that 592 million will have diabetes by 2035.
In Zimbabwe 10 percent of people were found to be diabetic in 2005 and 95 percent of the affected have type 2 diabetes while the remainder has type 1 diabetes.
Dr Musiiwa said a documented study on health beliefs in Zimbabwe patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus pointed to little knowledge about the disease.
He said it was further discovered the lack of knowledge had an effect on the self-care and health minding characteristics among men and women with diabetes.
“As we are all aware, the prevalence of diabetes is increasing in the communities we live hence the need to raise awareness on this condition.
“Suffice to say both type 1 and 2 diabetes can be managed by a lifestyle change and this involves health workers working together with patients through awareness campaigns that enable patients’ to take responsibility for their lives and helping them to feel safer in making their own informed decisions and to improve their knowledge and attitudes towards health.
“Effective self-management is the cornerstone of good care for people living with diabetes,” he said.
He said that the four day workshop train those who will train other colleagues from the various institutions they represented. Speaking also at the event Zimbabwe Diabetes Association President Dr John Chamunorwa Mangwiro said the country lacks specialist who can handle diabetes and government should deliberately have a policy to have nursing schools and universities to train specialised nurses and doctors in diabetes and hypertension.
He said since the attainment of independence in 1980 Zimbabwe only has general nurses and few specialist doctors in diabetes.
Dr Mangwiro said, “….. Country is in the backseat when it comes to diabetes and both nurses and diabetics are not aware of diabetes and its complications.
“Essence of the gathering is about teaching diabetics about their condition as well as teaching doctors and nurses about diabetes.
“We consume what we call good food yet it affects our health. The nurses should know the causes of diabetes, what food staffs is good for their diabetic patients and they should be equipped with knowledge of the complications which their patients are likely suffer,” he said.
He added that Novartis has offered to train specialists focusing on diabetes, hypertension and other hormonal diseases.
“We have requested Novartis to assist us in training nurses and diabetics and it has also offered to train 10 endocrinologists who will in turn train others in future. Endocrinology is the study of medicine that relates to the endocrine system, which is the system that controls hormones and an endocrinologist deal with diseases that are caused by problems with hormones,” he added.
In Zimbabwe lack of funding has stalled a more recent diabetes survey, while donors are still more focused on communicable diseases.
Comments
About Author
