a) The Department has put the following interventions in order to promote awareness on the dangers of diabetes:
b) Interventions which demonstrate how access to proper care for patients with diabetes is created, among others include:
1. Additional to the interventions listed above, he department is also conducting screening for chronic diseases including for diabetes at health facilities as part of the routine services in all our clinics, at mobile health facilities and is offered at the general Health Counselling and Testing Campaigns during all public events.
2. The department has further developed policies, strategies and guidelines including Primary Care Adult, Standard Treatment Guidelines and Essential Medicine List on the prevention, and treatment of diabetes including on preventing complications.
3. The Department promotes that diabetes risks and care are integrated in the policies, strategies, and guidelines of other health programs to address amongst others: gestational diabetes and diabetes among TB patients. The integrated approach for diabetic patients with co-, and multi- morbidities is implemented through the Ideal Clinic service delivery platform.
4. The department also introduced the Centralised Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distributing mechanism which ensures that the medicines are available and reach the eligible diabetic patients at points where they live and work.
5. There has been training of health care workers at all levels to enhance knowledge of diabetes and risk factors as well as to improve competencies when treating patients.
6. The department has also strengthened home and community-based care and support of patients with diabetes by community health workers.
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