Diabetes in Developing Countries - Essay Example

Download file to see previous pages Diabetes Type-1 diabetes is often called the juvenile onset diabetes and often occurs to the young people under the age of 20. Persons suffering from type-1 diabetes are often thin and suffer due to the inability of their pancreas to make the insulin. Since the natural ability of such individuals is restricted therefore such individuals are always required to take insulin either through the injections or insulin pumps. Type-II Diabetes Type-II diabetes is also adult-onset diabetes and occurs mostly due to the condition called insulin resistance. Type-II diabetes often occurs after the age of 35 and those suffering from Type-II diabetes are often heavy and overweight in nature. Most of the incidences of diabetes occur due to type-II diabetes and over 80% of the population suffers from this type of population. To overcome type-II diabetes, lifestyle changes are required including that of initiating diet and exercise regimes which help to control the blood sugar level. Since more and people are suffering from diabetes and it is also linked to heart disease along with high blood pressure and cholesterol, therefore, it may be one of the important public health issues to deal with. Intended Audience This communication plan will be focused upon on increasing the overall awareness of the stakeholders regarding diabetes. Since it has become a public health issue, therefore, it requires a comprehensive approach and involvement of different stakeholders to develop and design an appropriate response to the same. This communication plan is aimed at improving the overall awareness regarding diabetes in developing countries with special focus on sub-Saharan Africa. Further, this communication plan will also focus on the USA. The overall target audience of this communication plan is 1. Public Health Officials 2. Politicians 3. Medical Professionals 4. Donors 5. General Public The above target audience included relatively all the stakeholders whose decisions as well as actions will have a direct impact on the overall public health policies will be shaped to raise the overall awareness of diabetes. The overall theoretical underpinnings of this communication plan are based on the social cognitive theory. Social cognitive theory suggests that people may not be able to learn things on their own and their learning needs to be rooted in their social experiences and their observation of seeing others doing the things. It is therefore critical to note that individual learning is the direct result of the social experiences and observation of others doing certain things. Methods The initial methods will be based upon using a mix of different methods according to their overall effectiveness as well as relevance. Following methods will be used: 1. Publishing reports and sending of the same to all stakeholders. 2. Creation and maintaining of a web portal offering information in the local languages spoken in Sub-Saharan countries. 3. Individual presentations and information sessions for Politicians and Public Health Professionals. 4. Walks and other events to involve the general public to raise overall awareness regarding diabetes. 5. Social Media These methods are not only effective but least expensive too thus making them more practical for this communications plan. Goals The overall goals to be achieved through this communication plan include creating social change, changing behaviors as well as increasing awareness. ...Download file to see next pagesRead More