BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Partners in Health (Abwenzi Pa Za Umoyo) Malawi has increased awareness on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) through the World Diabetes Foundation project.
Programme Manager for Partners in Health, Assana Juwayeyi Magombo, disclosed this during a review meeting at Mount Soche Hotel in Blantyre on Friday, April 29, 2022.
Magombo said Partners in Health embarked on the 4-year project in 2019 with funding from World Diabetes Foundation with the aim of improving the health of Malawians by enhancing the national capacity for implementation of chronic NCDs prevention and management strategies.
“World Diabetes Foundation project started in 2019 with funding from World Diabetes Foundation that is aiming at strengthening health care for NCDs.
“We meet with stakeholders every quarter of the year to asses progress and challenges of the project. We have managed to raise awareness in communities and the progress is very observable in demand for the NCDs services,” said Magombo.
Magombo also said Partners in Health through the project has registered increased number of people screened for NCDs, improved NCDs clinic management and coordination with DHMTs
and decentralization of care to peripheral health facilities.
She added that the project has experienced a number of challenges including erratic shortage of drugs for NCDs as well as COVID-19 pandemic that affected the awareness campaigns carried out by the organisation.
Deputy Director for Clinical Services in the Ministry of Health and Population, Hastings Chiumia, has commended PIH for the efforts in fights against NCDs.
“Government through the Ministry of Health instituted the NCDs and mental health unit in 2019 and with support from Partners such as Partners in Health and World Diabetes Foundation, the progress in the fight against NCDs has been very notable over the years.
“We have managed to raise awareness in the communities on NCDs in coordination with Diabetes Association of Malawi and ADRA Malawi,” said Chiumia.
He also said the prevalent of diabetes in Malawi is 17% and the figures have reduced due to initiatives put in place with help from Diabetes Association of Malawi and Partners in Health.
He added that the country has put aside 10% of the drug budget in the country will be used to procure other relevant drugs such as those for NCDs in the event that they are not available at Central Medical stores and they will be handled by District Commissioners with support from directors of health and social services
The President of Diabetes Association of Malawi, Clement Mandala, said the Association has been raising awareness on Diabetes in rural communities despite the challenges of financial constraints and so far, they’ve registered a good number of people who’re aware of the disease.
“We have set aside committees in each district across the country that is specializing on Diabetes. Through the help of Partners in health, Ministry of Health, ADRA and Pharma Care, we have managed to reach out to more people in the rural areas in raising awareness on the diabetes,” Said Mandala.
The World Diabetes Foundation project in the country is carried out in partnership with Development Communication Trust, Adventist Relief Agency (ADRA) and Diabetes Association of Malawi (DAM).
