Project BELMED

BELMED project "Prevention of noncommunicable diseases, promotion of healthy lifestyles and support for the modernization of the health care system in the Republic of Belarus for 2016-2020", funded by the European Union and implemented by UNN agencies and the World Health Organization jointly with the Ministry of Health of Belarus,

Main components of the project

• Component Prevention of noncommunicable diseases and promotion of healthy lifestyles

The component will provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Health and several pilot initiatives. The activities of the component are planned to be carried out, first of all, at the local level with the wide involvement of a large number of organizations and local authorities.

• Component Support for Health System Modernization

Within the framework of the component, stakeholders at the national level will receive technical assistance to identify problems related to the need to modernize the health care system, including its financial sustainability and the application of world best practices (prioritizing primary health care, introducing innovative financing mechanisms - health insurance)

The main goal

Promoting effective prevention of NCDs and strengthening the national health system to effectively tackle NCDs in the Republic of Belarus

The goal will be achieved by solving the following tasks:

• Objective 1. Promotion of a healthy lifestyle and prevention of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) caused by the main risk factors (smoking, alcohol abuse, unhealthy diet and insufficient physical activity);
• Objective 2. Development of mechanisms for promoting healthy lifestyles at the local level;
• Objective 3. Preparation and implementation of pilot breast cancer screening programs at the regional level in order to introduce disease screening among the population of the Republic of Belarus;
• Objective 4. Improvement of the system of prevention of diseases of children and child injuries;
• Objective 5. Strengthening the system of medical care for mothers and children

Guidelines for the prevention and management of major NCDs and their risk factors

Instructions for the prevention and management of major NCDs and their risk factors were developed within the framework of the BELMED project "Prevention of noncommunicable diseases, promotion of healthy lifestyles and support for the modernization of the healthcare system in the Republic of Belarus for 2016-2020", funded by the European Union and implemented by the UN and the World organization of health care together with the Ministry of Health of Belarus.

List of instructions:

• on the procedure for organizing medical care in relation to the cessation of alcohol abuse
• on the procedure for organizing medical care in relation to smoking cessation
• on the procedure for organizing medical care in relation to the prevention and management of overweight and obesity
• on the procedure for organizing medical care for patients with an increased risk of diseases of the circulatory system
• on the procedure for organizing medical care in relation to the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes mellitus
• on the procedure for organizing medical care in relation to the prevention and management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• on the procedure for organizing motivational counseling for patients with non-communicable diseases and their risk factors based on a patient-centered approach

And also prepared brief standards:

• harmful alcohol use (including the AUDIT questionnaire)
• risk management of diseases of the circulatory system
• type 2 diabetes mellitus
• overweight and obesity
• smoking cessation
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

These guidelines, standards are intended for general practitioners / GPs, nurses and primary care physician assistants.