The WHO Regional Office for Europe and the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF) will launch a new 3-year multicountry project on improving diabetes care and preventing diabetes-related complications in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
The total project budget exceeds US$ 3 million, which includes a generous contribution of approximately US$ 2.6 million from WDF, complemented by WHO in-kind support.
The project aims to improve the quality of diabetes care, with specific focus on type 2 and gestational diabetes, through:
- evidence-based interventions and expanded primary health care capacity;
- stronger therapeutic patient education and self-management support; and
- enhanced prevention and early detection of diabetes complications via integrated foot care services and diabetic retinopathy screening pathways.
The project builds on previous successful country initiatives in the field of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes with improved service delivery and care organization aspects: team-based care, expanded role of nurses, meaningful patient engagement, integrated care pathways and continuous quality improvement mechanisms adapted to local context.
This project will support countries to move from previous pilot initiatives towards scaling successful proven interventions. It will ensure sustainability by strengthening governance and leadership, building capacity for evidence-based policies and implementing integrated, people-centred approaches to diabetes care as a tracer condition for health system strengthening.
Through these efforts, the project seeks to contribute to the implementation of the WHO Global Diabetes Compact, reducing premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases and advancing progress towards universal health coverage.
The launch event will bring together senior representatives from WHO, WDF, ministries of health of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, technical experts and country teams.
The programme will feature:
- a high-level panel discussion on the importance of accelerating action on diabetes at global, regional and country levels;
- reflections from ministers of health on the expectations and priorities for improving diabetes care;
- a personal commitments to implementing and sustaining the project;
- a presentation of the project’s objectives, expected results and implementation approach; and
- a panel discussion on the ingredients of success and challenges to address, opportunities and strategies for strengthening diabetes care and complication prevention across the region.
The event will highlight how countries can scale up evidence-based interventions, strengthen primary health care systems and improve outcomes for people living with diabetes.
The working languages will be English and Russian, with simultaneous interpretation.