Diabetes prevention and nutrition

The incidence of diabetes in Palestine is relatively high, ranging between 7 and 10% of the population. Recent studies also indicate that obesity is a severe problem with up to 40% of the women and 20% of the men in the age group 30-55 years being obese. These people are at high risk of developing diabetes. The Palestinian diabetes care is characterised by an over-emphasis on medication and an inadequate attention to prevention.  This project seeks to address this problem by incorporating nutrition counselling and behaviour change into the medical treatment of people with diabetes and high risk groups. Objective The project aims at promoting access to prevention and quality diabetes care on the West Bank. Approach The project is a collaboration between the Augusta Victoria Hospital, Jerusalem and DanChurchAid. A central element in the project will be the establishment of a diabetes centre at the Augusta Victoria Hospital in Jerusalem. The centre will serve as resource centre for diabetes education related to both medical professionals and people with diabetes and their relatives. The project operates with 2 teams in the areas of: health education and promotion health care delivery The education team will conduct community training at schools for students and teachers as well as medical education for doctors and nurses. The community education programme will focus on risk factors and life style adjustments that may prevent diabetes. The medical education programme emphasises diabetes care and management, treatment of diabetes related complications and life style and nutrition counselling. The health delivery team will implement diabetes care and nutrition counselling clinics for diabetes and obese patients in the hospital. Expected impact 600 people with diabetes will have received treatment at the Augusta Victoria Hospital 135 primary care physicians and 108 nurses will have received training in the areas of diabetes prevention, care and nutrition 1,200 students at 30 schools have been trained in obesity and its relation to diabetes 150 teachers know how to teach nutrition and health behaviours that may prevent diabetes 600 people with diabetes and 600 relatives have changed dietary habits 600 obese people at high risk of diabetes have received nutrition counseling to promote a healthier lifestyle Results achieved at project completion A centre of excellence for the Palestinian areas has been established at the Augusta Victoria Hospital. It is to serve as a referral centre for complicated cases of diabetes and as a resource and training centre for primary health providers on diabetes care and prevention 674 patients have been registered and assessed, and were given treatment by a diabetologist, nutrition counselling for patient and family and group education sessions 159 teachers have been trained to involve students in health matters School training programmes in 23 schools reached 1,255 students and a special teaching programme was applied regarding healthy lifestyles and prevention of chronic diseases 585 patient relatives were registered and have received education regarding diabetes prevention, healthy lifestyles and diabetes care 629 people at high risk have been registered and obese people have received nutritional counselling at the clinic, open seven days a week 262 physicians participated in regular workshops, which was twice the expected number 168 nurses were trained in proper diabetes care, prevention, nutrition and healthy lifestyle Project "Hope, Health Across the Wall" was started by AVH, enabling people with diabetes from the West Bank enter Jerusalem to attend the diabetes clinic at AVH by bus

Project data

Area Partner Project responsible Duration Project budget WDF contribution Project number

West Bank, Palestine DanChurchAid M. Sønderskov January 2003 - December 2005 USD 400,182 USD 206,855 WDF02-010