NCD refresher training in Duy Xuyen District

Our NCD Program exists to improve patient and physician knowledge of NCDs. We focus on understanding risk factors and controlling diabetes and hypertension at a low cost. Dr Hoa, a local doctor has partnered with us to develop a model that can change the "culture" of commune level health centers, he does this by sharing his skills and understanding of how to make NCD’s easy to manage. Last week, Dr Hoa helped VNHIP conduct refresher training for medical staff who have participated in the program and staff who are considering using this protocol, the training was held at Duy Xuyen District Health Medical Center. Training is a great opportunity for physicians to network with staff from other communes who have also applied VNHIP’s NCD protocol or who are thinking about it. Doctors and nurses from many clinics were able to share about its effectiveness and the different experiences they have encountered in controlling NCD disease.

One of the barriers that these district hospitals face is that their doctors and nurses are overloaded with work. Doctors who have been trained now understand the complex issues around NCD’s, however; they do not have enough time to educate their patients. Dr Hoa has a sound understanding the problem. At the end of the training about, he emphasized the important role that doctors need to play in helping patients understand how to help themselves in changing their eating habits and doing exercise regularly. He also said that the medical staff needs to take the time to explain to diabetic patients how to understand signs of hypoglycemia. Dr Hoa shared a story of a diabetic patient who was uneducated and took such high doses of medication that he became hypoglycemic and ended up in a serious diabetic coma. If patients know the signs of low blood sugar they can aid themselves and treat themselves quickly by eating  a small candy or drinking some sugar water.

When asked by a nurse at Duy Nghia clinic about why there are sometimes different results between patients who have been diagnosed with diabetes at the commune health centre and the hospital Dr Hoa explained in some detail about four methods of diagnosing diabetes and explained that the different methods used at different health care levels within Vietnam are all relevant. He also emphasized that doctors need to pay attention to the patient’s age in order to give effective drugs.

Dr Dung who is the head of Duy Nghia clinic shared that NCD protocol is very effective in his clinic. Many of his patients now understand the importance of changing their bad habits such as eating salty or sugary foods, drinking too much rice wine and not being active. Although his patients are busy with their farms and businesses they always remember to go to visit the clinic and listen to the doctor’s advice.

It is so encouraging for VNHIP when we hear stories of many patients who have learnt to take better care of their health and who control their NCD. We are excited and overjoyed that physicians in all levels in Vietnam are improving the capacity for health care management of NCDs.