DAB: the beginning of a journey, which goes on

Dr Mohammed Ibrahim first thought of diabetic care in the country. He realized that diabetes is such a disease where not only doctors but patients should be involved in the process of diabetic care. He thought the matter as a socio-medical care. Although the real extent of the problem of diabetes in the country was not evident, he could foresee the present picture at that time and organized a group of social workers, philanthropists and professionals. With the help of them he established Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (then Pakistan) on February 28, 1956. Primarily an adhoc committee was formed to run the organization. Later, on May 21, 1956 the first Office Bearers of the Association has been formed with the following members:

Major Dabiruddin – President
Dr Md Ibrahim – Vice President
Mrs Nurjahan Morshed – Vice President
Mr A M Salimullah Fahami – Secretary
Miss Tahera Karim – Joint Secretary
Dr M A Mannan – Joint Secretary
Mrs F Dosani – Treasurer
 

DAB: Started as OPD

Diabetic care was started in a tin-shed building at Segun Bagicha. The motto of Dr Ibrahim was `no diabetic patients should die untreated, unfed or unemployed even if she/he is poor'. So, he committed to give primary care to the diabetic patients free of cost irrespective of socio-economic, racial or religious status. Even rich patients were not allowed to buy the primary diabetic care, but they could donate money to the association. The resources and fund was raised through motivation programs.

It is to be noted that, there were no indoor facilities initially at Segun Bagicha. Patients in need of hospitalization were sent to other hospitals. In the beginning of 70's few short-stay beds were established to take care of the serious patients.

Dr M Ibrahim was very much aware about the quality of the service provided to the patients. He used to address the patients by saying that `we are grateful to you for giving us the opportunity to serve'. He also motivated other doctors to serve the patients with empathy. He included social welfare, health education, nutritional education and rehabilitation in the diabetes healthcare delivery system.

Management Structure

BADAS Vision

• In Bangladesh no diabetic should die untreated, unemployed or unfed.
• All people shall be provided with affordable health care service.
  
  
   

BADAS Mission

• Provide total healthcare including rehabilitation for all diabetics irrespective of gender, economic and social status through different institutions of Diabetic Associations of Bangladesh.
• Expand these services to provide affordable BADAS healthcare for all Bangladeshi through self-sustaining centres of excellences.
• Create specialized quality manpower (Research Scientists, Physicians, Technicians, Nurses and other related personnel) of high ethical standard.
• Develop leadership in healthcare through dedicated and transparent management system
• Develop industries for manufacturing quality medicines and healthcare products.

Diabetes Education Program

Diabetic patients we diectly educated by the diabetes educators from NHN. HCDP and Afliated Associations. Development of Flip chart is complete and has been disseminated among the diabetes educators. Educators are using the tool and efforts are appreciated by the patients.

Development of Lea´¼éet and poster is complete. The materids were distributed for the diabetes educators and other health professionals.
Development of other training tools like video programs. animation ´¼ülms is under process. From Nepal ll Diabetes Educators (Physician 03 : nurse 04; nutritionist 04 ) attended ‘Diabetes Educator‘ training program.

17700 newly detected diabetic patients were educated through patient education session From Ministry of Health. Bhutan O4 educators, 1 from USA and i3 from Affiliated Associations of BADAS were trained through Diabetes Hearth Educators training:

Clinical service: DCCS project-1650 patients were followed up.

800 students/Medical personnel of various Medical College/Institutes visited in 19 visits events. ll student from Japan visited twice. 12 of´¼ücers from Armed Forces Medical Institute visited BIRDEM through Health Education Department.

375 patients received training on glucometer operation and 56160 tests were done with giucometer by the patients.
lnsulin injectlon training was conducted (Syringe 7035: Pen device3844).

Education Team

Diabetic Education Program is conduct by Honorary Physicians (Diabetologist). They give the scientific lecture for effective lifestyle modification for primary prevention of diabetes to modifying the modi´¼üable risk factors through simple intervention of life style modification specially.

• Modest weight loss
• increase physical activity /exercise among the emolyees at organisation in divided group in Several Lecture.

They give the lecture through PowerPoint Presentation in Bengali containing messages of dabetic education and different skill for life style modi´¼ücation which produced through projector in education program. Especial emphasis has given on healthy diet. Nutrition education. increased physical activity. exercise etc.

A colorful diabetes guide book for primay prevention of Diabetes and NCDs in Bengali was pubished and distributed to each participants which is helpful for them to adopt ´¼üfe style modification and to reduce the prevalent of Type-2 DM & NCDs. There is question & answer session between Physician (Diabelologist) and the Participants of different organization to asses the primary knowledge about diabetes in education program.