Cameroon Essential Non-communicable Diseases Health Intervention Project (CENHIP)

Saturday 27 December 2008, by Webmaster

This project was concerned with the improvement of health care, in particular the development of practical treatment guidelines, and the development of preventive strategies for diabetes, hypertension and stroke, coronary heart disease, asthma and epilepsy in low and middle income countries. The project was funded by the Department for International Development of the British Government and started in Cameroon in 1997.

Using two health districts as study sites, a ‘situation analysis’ was undertaken. This included an assessment of the prevalence of NCDs and their risk factors (diabetes, hypertension, asthma and epilepsy). Current health service organisation, provision, and approaches to clinical care for people with NCDs were assessed. A variety of methodologies, appropriate to the different types of information being were used for this assessment. The strengths and weaknesses of the current system were also identified.

Treatment guidelines have be developed, implemented and evaluated in six pilot clinics within the study areas. As far as possible systematically produced evidence based guidelines were identified and adapted for local use. The development of training packages for health care staff in the use of the guidelines, patient monitoring systems, and patient educational materials to support the implementation and use of the guidelines have been undertaken. Evaluation of the guidelines within the pilot areas included an assessment of diagnostic accuracy, patient and provider compliance, and coverage of the population. In addition a detailed assessment of the costs involved in implementing the guidelines on process. A situational analysis of health promotion tackling mostly tobacco and alcohol consumption, diet and exercise relating to the four conditions was also done, leading to the development of a package for health promotion.

Once we developed and tested these tools for NCD care, the next step was to evaluate the health care system, and see how the tools can be used to improve health care at the primary health care level. In order to disseminate the tools outside the project areas and countries, we organized national and regional workshops in collaboration with the ministry of health and the World Health Organization, African Region for health policy makers. The following section will describe how we carried out the evaluation of the health care system.

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• Cameroon Essential Non-communicable Diseases Health Intervention Project (CENHIP)
  This project was concerned with the improvement of health care, in particular the development of practical treatment guidelines, and the (...)
• The European Union Nutritional Project
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