In 2021 The International Diabetes association reported a
tripling of diabetic cases within the Past ten years with today's count of
10.5% of world population. This makes it one of the Global health emergencies that needs immediate response. Diabetes mellitus accounts for 90% of all cases,
especially low and middle income countries including Rwanda. This is chiefly
attributed to change in lifestyle and malnutrition among other causes. The
current coverage rate of diabetic patients in Rwanda is around 4 percent and
the aim is to increase this to 50 percent by 2025 as indicated by the National
Strategy and Costed Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of
Non-Communicable Diseases in Rwanda.
In order to reach that target, there is a need to consider
diabetic complications which chiefly leads to poor treatment and high death
rate. Delayed diagnosis and Poor treatment results in development of several
comorbidities such as micro- or macro vascular complications that makes
treatment difficult and eventually causes Death. Most diabetes patients in
Rwanda are not diagnosed and accordingly are not being treated fully.
- Ophthalmological screening of diabetic patients for early treatment of these comorbidities.
- Providing advocacy for NCDs patients with various complications to drive NCDs policies in rural areas.
- Provide education to diabetic patients for self-monitoring and management.