Implementation and evaluation of a specialized diabetes clinic in Guinea-Bissau: lessons learnt from the field.

Introduction: diabetes care in Guinea-Bissau (GB) is characterized by a lack of properly trained healthcare professionals (HCPs) and guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow up of patients. To address these issues, this project was launched with the objective to train HCPs in the management of diabetic patients and establish a specialized diabetes clinic in the Hospital Nacional Simão Mendes, a public tertiary care hospital in Bissau, capital of GB. This project is led by the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) in collaboration with the Swiss Association for the Aid to Diabetic People in Guinea-Bissau, with the support of the International Solidairty Office (SSI) of the State of Geneva, and AIDA (Ayuda, Intercambio y Desarrollo).

Diabetes management in Guinea Bissau: a situational analysis.

Introduction: There is an increasing commitment in the African Region towards diabetes care, following acknowledgement that it is an important public health issue which needs to be addressed in order to improve population health. We conducted a situational analysis of diabetes care in Guinea Bissau in order to identify the main issues faced in the management of the disease in this country.

Methods: The study design was qualitative and data collection was done using semi directive interviews and focus groups with participants involved in primary diabetes care and management in Guinea Bissau (health care professionals, non-governmental organization staff, traditional healers) and patients.