Scaling up the WHO-PEN package for diabetes and hypertension in eSwatini: a nation-wide cluster-randomised evaluation of three strategies in eSwatini (WHO-PEN@Scale)

Partner: Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Schweizerisches Tropen-und Public Health Institute, University of eSwatini, Stichting Amsterdam Institute for Global health and Development, Folkehelseinstituttet Oslo, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Diabetes eSwatini, eSwatini Business Coalition and HIV and AIDS

Project duration: 01/2019 - 06/2023

Funding: This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 825823

Methods: App Development

Summary:
Diabetes and hypertension have developed into a significant global burden. The number of people with diabetes and high blood pressure is rising particularly in low and middle income countries.
With the support of the European Commission, a newly established research consortium in the WHO-PEN@Scale project is pursuing an innovative approach to combat these diseases in eSwatini, Southern Africa.
In eSwatini, the prevalence of diabetes and hypertension is high, but many people are never diagnosed. As in many other African countries, eSwatini provides care only in hospitals, putting pressure on already overburdened facilities. In response, the country has begun to explore ways to treat diabetes and hypertension in primary care.

The project is investigating whether community-based care is acceptable to patients and can be provided by health workers. A part of the project is to support the health workers with a suitable mobile phone application to support patient treatment and information transfer.