National Diabetes Self-Care Programme Launched

Today, the Ministry of Health launched the National Diabetes Self-Care Programme. It will be rolled out in the six districts for community health workers to be trained in diabetes prevention, nutrition and life-style related strategies. This project proposal was submitted to the World Diabetes Federation last year and over three hundred thousand Belize dollars were granted to run the programme over the next two years.  The aim is twofold: to reach as many as one thousand five hundred diabetics so that the disease is addressed at an early stage and to prevent diabetes in those persons not yet with the disease. But following that, the Ministry of Health will continue with the project. We stopped by today’s launch to find out more about the initiative.

Marvin Manzanero

Dr. Marvin Manzanero, Director of Health Services

“It is a grant of about one hundred and eighty-five thousand US dollars that is to be roll out over the next three years for the six districts. It is basically trying to train community health workers to address diabetes at the primary care setting, primarily prevention aspects that is what trying to concentrate on. We are actually seeing the many complications of diabetes, people going blind, amputation, kidney failure, and showing up in health facilities. We want to avoid that. Prevention is key message and that is why we are trying to address it at a community level.”

Anthony Castillo

Anthony Castillo, President, Belize Diabetes Association

“What happens in most cases in Belize, is the lack of information and lack of education as it relates to diabetes. So this program will address one aspect of it where we will train our health educators and also train our community health workers who in turn will train our people on the ground living with the condition.”