Facilities and resources for diabetes care at regional health facilities in southern Ghana

In the fall of 1995, each of the five provincial hospitals in southern Ghan a was visited and facilities and resources for diabetes care assessed. In a ddition, health facilities and standards of care questionnaires were comple ted. Only Korle Bu Teaching Hospital run a diabetes clinic and had diabetol ogists. Only two facilities had an eye specialist or trained dietician. Non e of the five facilities had a trained diabetes educator or chiropodist. Ex cept for sphygmomanometers, basic equipment for clinical care were lacking. Basic biochemistry tests were available at all facilities. Creatinine clea rance and 24-h urine protein, glycated haemoglobin, fasting triglyceride, t otal cholesterol and HDL cholesterol were available at only one centre. Non e of the facilities measured C-peptide, islet cell antibody and urine micro albumin. None of the facilities had chronic haemodialysis service. Insulin supply was erratic at two institutions. Three regions had active diabetes a ssociations. The facilities and system of diabetes care in southern Ghana r evealed in this study are far from satisfactory. Training of health care pe rsonnel in diabetes management and education may enhance diabetes care desp ite the existing constraints. Furthermore, the development of international and regional guidelines for facilities and resources may facilitate implem entation of international resolutions and clinical practice guidelines. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.