Project Counterparts Participated in the Knowledge Co-creation Program on Diabetes Control in Japan

The NCD Control Project team has successfully completed an intensive two-week knowledge co-creation program in Japan focused on diabetes control. The program, held from June 1 to June 13, 2025, provided deep insights into Japan's health system and diabetes management, fostering strategies to improve patient care in Cambodia.

A total of 10 Cambodian officials were selected for the program, representing the Ministry of Health, Kampong Cham Provincial Health Department, Operational Districts, and Referral Hospitals. They were accompanied by two experts from the Noncommunicable Disease Control Project and a national staff from JICA Cambodia.

Throughout the first week, participants engaged in lectures and site visits in Tokyo, learning about Japan’s health system, NCD control strategies, and health screening programs at institutions like the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) and the Japan Institute for Health Security (JIHS). Key learnings from the first week included multidisciplinary team-based care in diabetes control, effective use of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials, and advanced use of electronic medical records.

The second week featured a visit to Nagano Prefecture, recognized as a pioneer in community healthcare, where participants learned about community-level NCD prevention, the role of health volunteers, and the functions of local clinics. The visit to Saku Medical Center highlighted effective collaboration between general hospitals and local clinics, including patient referrals.

The major outcome of the program was defining the roles and responsibilities of PH and RHs for all the DM services and the development of an action plan to strengthen the capacity of DM foot assessment and care in KC. The plan was formulated through collaborative work sessions throughout the program and presented on the final day to an audience that included members from JICA Headquarters, the Japan Institute for Health Security, and trainees’ colleagues in Cambodia.

The program concluded with a closing ceremony on June 12, where participants received certificates from both JIHS and JICA. The project aims to incorporate the lessons learned from this program into its activities to further strengthen NCD control efforts.