Yousef Shahin
United Nations Relief and Works Agency, Jordan
Title: Diabetes care in refugee camps: The experience of UNRWA
Biography
Biography: Yousef Shahin
Abstract
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) was established in 1949 and has delivered health care services for around 67 years. The epidemiological transition in disease burden is changing the context in which UNRWA’s health program operates and poses new challenges that require new ways of providing health services. Hypertension and diabetes are two major health problems for Palestine refugees. Among NCDs, hypertension and diabetes are two major health problems for Palestine refugees. UNRWA has been providing diabetes and hypertension care since 1992 in its primary health care centers. Around 11.0% and 16.2% of people ≥40 years attending UNRWA health facilities in 2015 had diabetes and hypertension respectively, with almost 250,000 people with diabetes and/or hypertension being cared for at UNRWA clinics in the region. The number of people with diabetes has been steadily increasing by 5% each year. The UNRWA NCD strategy is primarily directed at reducing risk factors and providing services for common conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. The current strategy has three main elements namely, healthy life style promotion, early detection of diabetes and hypertension - achieved by active screening of at risk individuals and implementation of treatment protocols and effective case management. Through a structured process of care delivery the UNRWA health system is making significant strides in addressing diabetes and hypertension and consequently the nine voluntary global targets as envisaged in the WHO Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs 2013-2020