Palestine National Diabetes Project
Our National Diabetes Program has been focusing on preventing diabetes with the overall goal to implement a national community-based approach to diabetes care and prevention, adopting a holistic approach to building communities capacity to address NCDs, specifically diabetes. Working on the national level, Juzoor has partnered with multiple stakeholders including the Palestinian Ministry of Health, UNRWA, Dan Church Aid (DCA), and Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH).
The Turning Point
Due to its accomplishments and success in its first phase, its high demand and to create sustain development, the World Diabetes Foundation has funded this program in its second phase aiming to equip and prepare an additional 4 model clinics and 8 intermediate clinics for diabetes patients screening and treatment in the targeted areas of East Jerusalem – Bir Nabala MoH Clinic, Tulkarem MoH Clinic, and Qalqilia UNRWA Clinic. With an ambitious goal and a significant investment, the second phase of the project will provide an opportunity to look beyond diabetes and pave the way for a broad prevention agenda through a national community based approach to diabetes care prevention and adopt a holistic approach to building communities’ capacity to address NCDs specially Diabetes.
Diabetes can be taken to act as an example to demonstrate the importance of holistic approaches to the prevention and treatment of NCDs throughout the West Bank and Gaza.
In 2020, under the National Diabetes Project, Juzoor has:
- Upgraded 3 models as centers of excellency in the North to act as referral centers and 6 intermediate clinics (primary care) Diabetes Comprehensive Care Models. They are now serving as centers of excellence, serving tens of thousands of people in their areas.
- Strengthened the national committee of NCDs to become active and operational
- Built the capacity of health care providers to implement national protocols to strengthen diabetes care and prevention
- Provided diabetes care, management and screening for complications
- Raising awareness of preventive measures for diabetes and NCDs within the community
- An Evaluation of The Palestine National Diabetes Program 2017-2020 was conducted
- A survey was conducted to track lifestyle habits and behaviors of type 2 diabetic patients in Palestine during the countrywide lock-down to help address important issues about the overall impact of social distancing measures on their health. Findings from the survey were published rapidly to inform current decision-making, as well as future pandemic responses in Palestine. The survey focused on the life of the diabetic patient, nutritional habits and the effect of lock-down on their lifestyle and nutrition.