Gaps and challenges to integrating diabetes care in Myanmar.
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Date
2016-04
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia
Abstract
In common with other low-income countries, diabetes is a growing challenge for
Myanmar. Gaps and challenges exist in political commitment, policy development,
the health system, treatment-seeking behaviour and the role of traditional medicine.
National policies aimed at prevention – such as to promote healthy food, create
a healthy environment conducive to increased physical activity, restrict marketing
of unhealthy food, and initiate mass awareness-raising programmes – need to be
strengthened. Moreover, existing initiatives for prevention of noncommunicabledisease
(NCD) are channelled vertically rather than being horizontally integrated.
Primary health care is traditionally orientated more towards prevention of infectious
diseases and staff often lack training in prevention and control of NCDs. Capacitybuilding
activities have been modest to date, and retaining trained health workers in
diabetes-oriented activities is a challenge. The World Health Organization Package
of Essential Noncommunicable (PEN) disease interventions for primary health
care in low-resource settings has been piloted in Yangon Region and countrywide
expansion awaits ministerial approval. Recently, the Myanmar Diabetes Care
Model was proposed by the Myanmar Diabetes Association, with the aims of both
bridging the gap in diabetes care between rural and urban areas and strengthening
care at the secondary and tertiary levels. However, implementation will require
policy development for essential drugs and equipment, capacity-strengthening of
health-care workers, and an appropriate referral and health-information system.
Description
Keywords
capacity-building, diabetes, management, Myanmar, policy, prevention
Citation
WHO South-East Asia Journal of Public Health 2016;5(1): 48-52.