Primary health care approach to Diabetes mellitus in Malawi

Abstract

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is one of non-communicable diseases that have public health significance. In Malawi, it is estimated that diabetes prevalence rate is 5.6% among the age group 25-64 in the year 2009. In Malawi, diabetes has not gained adequate attention in terms of all resources such as personnel, medicinal and laboratory equipment and reagents. Primary Health Care approach to the management of diabetes is not only low labour intensive but improves patient retention as well especially in rural areas. Health Education, for instance, improves self- care and life style. Adopting this strategy will help poor Malawians affected with diabetes access the much needed care affordably. Nurse-led diabetes clinics strategy hits two birds with one stone in that remote areas ,where nurses already working- could be easily provided with the services and nurses are the most available cadre in the hands of the Ministry of Health. So, Primary Health Care (PHC) approach, if carefully used, will help Malawians affected with diabetes to have access to the much needed care thereby improving their own quality of life.

Keywords

• diabetes
• primary health care
• malawi