Alyina Altymysheva, the national representative of the World Health Organization, reported on the positive outcomes of the project by the World Diabetes Foundation, which was implemented in Kyrgyzstan. This project was recognized as one of the best among 53 countries in Europe, and its results were presented at a conference in Tallinn in 2023.
“Many Kyrgyz medical specialists participated in the team. We saw that health promotion offices, working at an intersectoral level, play a key role,” noted Altymysheva.
During the implementation of the project, numerous activities were conducted, confirming the need for the entire society to be involved in the fight against diabetes.
One of the main focuses of the project was training nurses. “We trained a large number of nurses, which is particularly significant. They are younger, familiar with modern technologies, and can quickly convey information to patients. While the number of doctors is limited and many are retired, nurses can explain to patients how to properly care for their foot health, including warnings that they should not cut their nails themselves or walk barefoot, as this can lead to serious complications due to reduced sensitivity,” she emphasized.
Additionally, the project focused on the early detection of eye damage in diabetic patients using a fundus camera.
“The procedure involves the nurse taking a photograph of the eye, and then the image is sent to an ophthalmologist. If necessary, the patient is advised to see a doctor. This is important, as every third person with diabetes in the world has eye problems,” added Alyina Altymysheva.
