Diabetes care assistance from Rotary Club of Dominica

A donation in the amount of $5,480.00 has been made by the Rotary Club of Dominica toward diabetes foot care in Dominica.

The diabetic instruments were donated to the Ministry of Health on Wednesday afternoon and will be linked to the Chronic Care Model Program.

Athenia James of the Ministry of Health said that the instruments will assist the Ministry of Health to manage and prevent diabetes particularly in the area of foot care.

“Diabetes and foot care problems have a significant impact on the Caribbean including Dominica,” she stated. “Countries throughout the region have a high prevalence of diabetes and some of the world’s highest rate of diabetes is in some of our islands in the Caribbean. This affects amputation; persons lose lower limbs due to amputations and these amputations are threatening to the quality of life of these individuals because it brings about dependence.”

President of the Rotary Club of Dominica, Robert Tongue, said that the club is proud to be making the donation.

“We are proud to be part of this event and to be able to sponsor diabetes foot care equipment which I think will go a long way,” he remarked. “People who have amputated limbs are definitely on an increase. If you look around you will definitely see quite a few persons who have amputated limbs. We look forward to working alongside the government to see how we can take this further and reduce amputations”

Primary Health care officer, Dr Charlotte Jeremy, said the Ministry is grateful for the instruments as they will help to keep the feet of those with diabetes clean, increase sensitivity, and therefore the risk of getting the diabetes foot will be decreased.

The Rotary club donated 10 turning forks, 20 artery forceps, 20 scalpels of various sizes, 20 foot dressers, 21 scissors, 20 nippers general, and 20 blades.

The Chronic Care Model is an organizational approach to caring for people with chronic disease in a primary care setting. It identifies essential elements of a health care system that encourage high quality chronic disease care, the community, the health system, self management support, delivery system design, decision support and clinical information systems.