Project to improve diabetic foot care begins at GPHC

Source: Guyana Chronicle, 19th March 2008

CANADIAN diabetic foot specialists will train local health professionals in techniques of diabetic foot care in an effort to stem foot ulcers which has become a pandemic.

A release from the (GPHC) said the $22 M ($7 M local counterpart funding) year-long project will bring Canadian diabetic foot specialists to Guyana to train local health professionals in the techniques of screening, education and foot care, which have been proven to prevent foot ulcers.

GPHC said like many countries, Guyana has been deeply affected by the worldwide pandemic of type II diabetes.

The press release said between six and nine percent of the adult population is afflicted by this disease, which is the third leading cause of death.

It added that the complications of diabetes - foot disease, visual impairment, kidney problems and accelerated risk of heart attack and stroke - cause a large amount of suffering and premature death.

One of the most important is diabetic foot ulcers. This problem is the single most common reason for admission to a surgical bed at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, representing 10 percent of all admissions. Diabetics are 15 times more likely to suffer an amputation than the general public, the release said.

The release noted that foot ulcers precede amputation in 85 percent of cases. xPreventing the development of foot ulcers in diabetics and more effective treatment of those that do occur are important measures to improve the health of the people of Guyana, the release added.

The statement added that in line with the Ministry of Health's recommendations for diabetic care, the GPH opened a Diabetic Foot Centre in September 2007. GPHC said the hospital has been awarded G $15M from the Canadian Cooperation Fund (CCF), a branch of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to further improve diabetic foot care.

As well these specialists will introduce enhanced methods of ulcer management, including the use of devices to reduce the pressure on the patients' feet. This is an important component which is necessary for ulcer healing, it said.

GPHC added that technicians at the facility and the Ptolemy-Reid Rehabilitation Centre will be trained in these techniques. The result will be enhanced, sustainable capacity to improve the lives of people with diabetes.

A press conference to announce the opening of this important project will be held today at GPHC.

Officials from the hospital, Ministry of Health, CCF and the newly appointed Canadian sub-contractors for the project will be available to answer questions from the media and public.