Insulin Availability

Objective

The project aims to improve the delivery of insulin and to optimise its use in Mozambique.

Expected impact

• Mozambique's estimated 8,000 insulin requiring people with diabetes will benefit from better availability of insulin and monitoring equipment
• Diabetes management protocols will help improve utilisation of insulin

Results at completion

• Rapid assessment of insulin availability and its constraints in Mozambique has been conducted
• Recommendations of the assessment prioritised by stakeholders and ready for implementation

Project details

Three quarters of a century after its discovery, insulin is still not available on an uninterupted basis in many parts of the developing world.

A survey in 25 African countries found that in half of them insulin was often unavailable in the large city hospitals, while in only 5 countries was insulin regularly available in rural areas.

In consequence the life expectancy of a child with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes in much of Sub-Saharan Africa may be as short as 1 year.  

The International Insulin Foundation was founded in response to this situation. The Foundation aims to prolong the life and promote the health of people with diabetes in the developing countries by improving the supply of insulin and education in its use. 

Approach

The project uses a customised version of the Rapid Assessment Protocol (RAP), developed by the WHO. The customised version is called Rapid Assessment Protocol for Insulin Access (RAPIA).

The aim of the RAPIA is to provide a practical field guide to assist teams in the collection, analysis and presentation of data in low and middle income countries. The project is a pilot to test the usability of the RAPIA approach. Based on the results, the approach may be applied in other developing countries.

Based on the review of the constraints to access to insulin, the project will work with the health authorities, the insulin and equipment producing industry and other stakeholders to explore and overcome the constraints at the general level.

At the patient level, the project aims to work with the people with Type 1 diabetes and their carers to improve the delivery of insulin and to optimise its use in the local setting.