The Diabetes Unit News

November 2007

The Diabetes Unit of the Australian Health Policy Institute (AHPI) was fortunate to host two visitors, Associate Professor Izham Ibrahim from the Universiti Sains Malaysia and Dr Si Thu Win Tin, from the Ministry of Health, Nauru during October.

Dr Si Thu Win Tin is the Acting Director General of Health in Nauru. Professor Ibrahim is the Director of the Corporate and Sustainable Development Division of the Universiti Sains Malayasia. He was the former Coordinator of the Healthy Campus Programme in the university. During his visit Professor Ibrahim presented a seminar at the School of Public Health illustrating the progress of the “Healthy Campus” at the Universiti Sains Malaysia.

Professor Ibrahim and Dr Tin participated in an Inter-University Chronic Disease Knowledge Network and Advocacy Attachment. The visit was made possible through the award of an International Program Development Fund grant from the University of Sydney. The purpose of the attachment was to develop an advocacy and action ‘toolbox’ for epidemic chronic disease control in developing countries.

During the time they were with us Professor Ibrahim and Dr Tin met with a number of relevant departments and organisations. They made a number of useful contacts and also developed a first draft of the chronic disease advocacy package.

November 2007

Two reports have been released:

• The Diabetes Declaration and Strategy for Africa
  a call to action and plan of action to prevent and control diabetes and related chronic diseases
  Summary Document, 2006.

The African Diabetes Declaration and Strategy were initiated and developed by the International Diabetes Federation Africa Region in collaboration with World Health Organisation (WHO) - AFRO.

A copy of the report is available here: Report

• The Diabetes Strategy for Africa: An Integrated Strategic Plan for Diabetes and Health Related Risks. 2006

A joint initiative of the International Diabetes Federation – African Region in partnership with the WHO-AFRO and targetted at all countries covered by the African Union (Prepared by R Colagiuri).

A copy of the report is available here: Report

October 2007

Eigenmann C, Colagiuri R. Outcomes and Indicators for Diabetes Education - A National Consensus Position. Diabetes Australia, Canberra 2007.

September 2007

Building Better Diabetes Care in Vanuatu, Report on the World Diabetes Foundation Project National Stakeholder Forum, June 5th – 6th 2007, Port Vila.

June 2007

Dr Alexandra Buckley and A/Professor Ruth Colagiuri conducted a major deliverable of the World Diabetes Foundation project “Building Capacity: Reducing Diabetes Complications: a Pacific Islands Model” in the form of a National Stakeholder Forum which was held on 5th – 6th June in Port Vila, Vanuatu. The Forum brought together representatives from the Ministry of Health in Vanuatu, other government departments, business, NGOs, WHO, providers and administrators. The purpose of the Stakeholder Forum was to design a diabetes care model that can most closely approximate internationally recognised standards of care within local resources.

In the developing country context, the Stakeholder Forum was a novel approach to whole-of-community engagement in health system reform and is a milestone in the history of health care in Vanuatu. It concentrated on developing and aligning the workforce and health services, information, funding and policy with the needs of people with diabetes.

The main outcomes of the Forum were:

• an agreed model of diabetes care that is optimally suited to Vanuatu and which can be sustained in the long term
• a set of recommendations, pathways and priorities for implementation

Ms Sanne Frost Helt, the Progam Manager from the World Diabetes Foundation also attended this Forum.

May 2007

As part of the World Diabetes Foundation project “Building Capacity: Reducing Diabetes Complications: a Pacific Islands Model”, Dr Samuel Kemuel and Nurse Practitioner John Tasserei from Vanuatu visited in May to undertake intensive training which was jointly conducted by the Diabetes Centre at the Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney and TDU. The training concentrated on:

• the clinical management and early detection of diabetes complications
• podiatric care including foot ulcer and amputation prevention and management and wound healing
• diabetes patient education
• health worker competencies
• health service organisation
• project management
• preparation for Vanuatu’s Stakeholder Forum on “Building Better Diabetes Care in Vanuatu”