Banepa: The Dhulikhel hospital for the first time gave full leadership to the nurses by launching a diabetes control campaign, the narrow perception of the nurses’ roles seems to have changed. The campaigns are supported by the World Diabetes Foundation.
Dr. Ramesh Makaju, Director of Dhulikhel Hospital, said- “Unlike other non-communicable diseases, the symptoms of diabetes are not detected in time which makes the person unaware of their disease. So, it was necessary to mobilize nurses at the community level.”
A researcher at the Community Department, Dr. Ava Shrestha said-“Change in lifestyle and eating habits due to increasing urbanization, are the major reasons behind diabetes in most cases. So we plan to organize awareness programs through ‘the Food Care Clinic’ to those patients who come to the hospital and through 22 health centers (outreach).”
According to the department, in developing countries like Nepal, diabetes is the most non-communicable disease and it affects the health of the people.
Dr. Shrestha said, “Due to the lack of proper research mechanism, it cannot be monitored if the diabetic patients have regularly taken their medicine or changed their lifestyle. It eventually leads to death from eye, kidney and heart diseases. Many such examples have been observed in the research process. So, we give special priority to the camps operated by outreach centers.” He added that patients who are under follow-ups are also prioritized. For this, we keep the patients under regular contact with the hospital through software and mobile applications. The second phase focuses more on the eating habits of the patients along with eye care and the qualified nurses are assigned for this role.
Ms. Rabina Shrestha, the focal person of the program informed that for the first time they organized orientation programs with female volunteers about diabetes at Khopasi Primary Health Center with 130 female volunteers in Dhulikhel, Banepa and Panauti. Two or three diabetes awareness clubs will be formed in each municipality with their participation. The nurses will play a big role in this.
The hospital has conducted 11 screening camps at the health center, community and camps of Dhulikhel, Banepa and Panauti municipality till now.
Shrestha further added that about 600 people in Dhulikhel, 300 in Banepa and 208 in Panauti have taken screening tests. The mobile numbers collected at those camps are kept in the hospital’s database. The flow of diabetic patients to the hospital has increased and directed them to other departments like the heart and the eye and assist in the treatment.
Source: My Republica
