The focus of this project was the training of health personnel and diabetes patients. These trainings were provided by Lic. Santa Cruz, who is a diabetes nurse educator. In her regular meetings with patients, many of whom are illiterate, Lic. Santa Cruz educated them according to whether they were diabetic or at risk. For those who were in the at risk category, she designed and implemented preventative strategies, including a color-coded tracking system, and for those who were actually diabetic, she adapted this tracking system to prevent further complications from arising. These meetings ran throughout the year.

Dr. Mora, who made a presentation on this award-winning project at the spring 2007 A.L.A.D Conference.

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This project has captured the interest of the directors of the public health ministry to the point where the literature associated with the tracking system will be printed on the ministry's own printing press prior to circulation. It will be developed as a pilot by Pastaza's public health department and, depending on results, will be replicated in other provinces. The clinical impact has not yet been measured, but the community healthcare providers will have an opportunity to do so later this year.

CFHI alumni grant recipient, Clark Baker, was selected to provide support for, and learn from, this project. His support includes the elaboration of a baseline of reference and the collection of a significant sample of 30 diabetic patients.

At the time of writing, the next steps include:

• 100 lab tests to determine the base line and results
• Printing of the instrument booklets for circulation
• One workshop for 50 participants.

*Note: The success of this community health initiative has earned it a national award from the Ecuadorian government as well as international recognition. Dr. Edgar Mora (pictured above), who serves as one of CFHI's medical preceptors in Puyo, Ecuador, presented this award-winning diabetes project at A.L.A.D (Latin American Diabetes Association) in spring 2007. The presentation was made at the Fourth Latin American Internal Medicine Conference.