A second phase 2021-2024 of our project to strengthen the prevention and management of diabetes/HIV and diabetes/TB comorbidities

Diabetes is scourge that is spreading in Africa. People who have comorbidities, such as HIV/aids and tuberculosis, are vulnerable to it. A significant number of people are affected by these comorbidities and a scientific approach needs to be implemented to address it. For diabetes and tuberculosis, we use the term “co-epidemic,” for diabetes and HIV, we stress the close link between lipodystrophy and insulin resistance or diabetes.

An integrated approach is therefore critical. This is what the NGO Santé Diabète initiated in a first project carried out in Mali and Burkina Faso between March 2017 and June 2021 and funded by L’Initiative : "Improving the skills of healthcare workers involved in the prevention and integrated care of Diabetes/Tuberculosis and Diabetes/HIV in Burkina Faso and Mali”.

 

A positive external evaluation of this phase 1: A “pertinent and coherent, innovative and efficient” project

This first project received a very positive external evaluation report in December 2020. The project was judged to be: "Pertinent and coherent because it responds to identified health needs. It aims to make up for the lack of management of comorbidities with serious health consequences in a context of the increasing prevalence of diabetes. It is consistent with the public health policies of the two countries and is carried out in partnership with health authorities. It seeks to strengthen the entire chain of care involved in integrated diabetes/TB and diabetes/HIV managements from the university level to the communities level, thus promoting comprehensive care for patients. Finally, it is complementary to the actions carried out in the two countries within the framework of Global Fund financing. ".

The project is also judged to be : " Innovative in that it promotes cross-disciplinary management of various pathologies (comorbidities) and interdisciplinary collaboration within the health system. It is also part of the comprehensive screening and management programs of diabetes and public health policy implemented by the NGO Santé Diabète jointly with health authorities for the past ten years ".

New Project 2021-2024

At the end of the first project, in June 2021, will start a new 3-year project entitled : "Strengthening the health systems of Mali, Burkina Faso and the Union of the Comoros by continuing to integrate prevention and integrated management of Diabetes/Tuberculosis and Diabetes/HIV”. In addition to Burkina Faso and Mali, this project will also include the Union of the Comoros. This project has 4 specific objectives :

  • SO1 Strengthen the political, strategic and coordination frameworks for the prevention and integrated management of Diabetes/TB and Diabetes/HIV comorbidities in the 3 countries (Mali, Burkina Faso and Union of the Comoros)
  • SO2 : Strengthen the initial and continuing training of health professionals for the management and therapeutic literacy of patients with co-morbidities (Diabetes/TB, Diabetes/HIV) in the 3 countries (Mali, Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso and the Union of the Comoros)
  • SO3 Strengthen community prevention actions with PLWHIV, people with diabetes and TB carried out with CSOs and their community networks in the 3 countries (Mali, Burkina Faso and Union of the Comoros)
  • SO4 Develop cross-disciplinary actions of capitalisation and communication based on the methodologies developed and the results obtained in the three countries (Mali, Burkina Faso and Union of the Comoros)

And it will affect different types of beneficiaries :

  • 9 national diabetes, TB and HIV national programs (3 per country)
  • 3 CCMs (1 per country)
  • 72 patient associations and CSOs
  • A community network of 48 community PEPs trained in the 3 countries
  • 60 students in medical specialisation
  • 616 healthcare professionals working in 2nd and 3rd reference structures in 3 countries
  • 5,000 patients in total with diabetes and TB or diabetes and HIV who will have access to better quality care in the three countries
  • 35,000 people with diabetes (15,000 in Mali, 5,000 in Burkina Faso and 1,000 in the Union of the Comoros) will have access to awareness raising about HIV and TB
  • 21,000 PLHIV (10,000 in Mali, 10,000 in Burkina Faso and 1,000 in the Comoros) will have access to awareness raising about the risk factors for diabetes and TB.

Find here the film that was made at the end of the first phase of the project :