Xstrata Copper North Queensland.pdf - Mount Isa Mines

Sustainable communities
Case study
Mount Isa Diabetes Clinic
continuing to make a difference
More than 6,000 free consultations have been provided to people
with diabetes in the Mount Isa region since the Mount Isa Diabetes
Clinic commenced in 2005 (previously the Mount Isa Diabetes
Service). This has significantly alleviated pressure on the region’s
healthcare system by reducing the number of diabetes patients seen
regularly by local doctors and health clinics.
Xstrata’s partnership with Queensland Health
through the Xstrata Community Partnership
Program North Queensland is supporting
this free community service that targets
prevention, early intervention, treatment
and self management of diabetes. The clinic
treats adults and youth from Indigenous and
non-indigenous backgrounds, children with
diabetes and pregnant women suffering from
gestational diabetes.
Diabetes is Australia’s fastest growing chronic
disease, and it is particularly prevalent among
Indigenous Australians, where the incidence
rates of diabetes have more than doubled
over the past decade. Diabetes is a serious
concern in the Mount Isa Health Service
District; while 8.7% of the District’s nonindigenous
population have diabetes, more
than 14% of the Indigenous population
are sufferers, and this is compared with
a national average of less than 5%. This
highlights the demand for a local, dedicated
diabetes management clinic to help sufferers
manage their disease and avoid the serious
complications that can arise from it.
The clinic employs two full-time clinical
nurse consultants (diabetes educators).
They conduct local clinics in Mount Isa and
also provide an outreach service, where
they regularly visit outlying Indigenous
communities to provide diabetes education
to people who would not otherwise
have the resources to travel to Mount Isa
for treatment.
The service’s diabetes educators provide
specialist diabetes management advice to
general practitioners and healthcare workers
in Mount Isa, and conduct regular diabetes
and nutrition awareness sessions at local
schools, community groups, and at events
including the Xstrata Mount Isa Mining Expo.
The Mount Isa Diabetes Clinic has shown
some very positive results in improving the
health of those people living with diabetes.
Statistics from the clinic show that following
treatment and advice, clients have an average
reduction in blood glucose levels of 1.4%,
equating to diabetes complications being
reduced by 33.6%.
Xstrata has supported the service for six
years with a total funding contribution
of $360,000 over this period. From 2011,
Xstrata will continue to provide support
for the clinic through its donations and
sponsorships program.
Kerry O’Brien – Mount Isa Diabetes Clinic
Outreach Educator, discusses nutrition with
Frances Page
Sustainability Report 2010 59