On March 28, 2024, a training and screening day on hypertension (HTN) and diabetes was organized in the 4th section of Limbé, in the locality of Moroe. This event, designed to raise community awareness about the growing prevalence of these chronic diseases, brought together 74 participants aged 11 to 80 years old. Organized by the mental health department of ACCES-Santé in collaboration with the Organization for the Development of Farmers in Moroe (ODPM), this initiative combined education and screening in a friendly and engaging atmosphere.
Blood glucose screening for a participant, highlighting the practical and medical aspect of the event.
Participants:
All participants, aged 11 to 80 years old, numbered 74. They face conditions of vulnerability such as food insecurity, poor eating habits, substance abuse, and lack of access to care.
Context:
In response to the high prevalence of HTN and diabetes in the community, a training and screening session was organized in the 4th section of Limbé, in the locality of Moroe.
General view of the attentive audience, showing the engagement of participants of different ages.
Activity:
The day began with a 30-minute training session, followed by a screening activity. The main points covered during the training included statistics and prevalence of HTN/diabetes worldwide, definition, signs and symptoms, complications, importance of screening, eating habits, behaviors to adopt, means of prevention, and promotion of the clinic's HTN/diabetes program.
Organization:
This activity was made possible through our collaboration with Mr. Joseph DORISCA, one of the volunteer leaders of this community. Two in-person meetings were followed by telephone calls to plan the activity.
Engagement and Participation:
Participants greatly appreciated this initiative and requested that a similar activity be organized once a month.
Rationale for the Initiative:
The problem addressed was the rise of HTN and diabetes within the community. Given the advanced age of the majority of members of this organization, it was crucial to organize this activity for purposes of prevention, medical and psychosocial follow-up of these chronic diseases.
Usefulness of the Session
This session helped beneficiaries better understand chronic diseases, particularly HTN and diabetes. They learned about eating habits and behaviors to adopt when facing these diseases, prevention measures, and became aware of their blood pressure and blood glucose levels.
This activity advances ACCES-Santé's mission in the community by promoting health, particularly for people living with HTN and diabetes. It also strengthens the close relationship between the clinic and this organization, contributing to the clinic's visibility. The next step is to contact the screened individuals and organize another activity next month.
