Objective
The project aims to support 108 children and youth with type 1 diabetes.
The target group is disadvanged children and youth with type 1 diabetes in urban and peri-urban areas of Tanzania, outside the capital area of Dar es Salaam. The project is being implemented in three referral Hospitals which are Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (Moshi), Bugando Medical Centre (Mwanza) and Mnazi Mmoja Referral Hospital (Zanzibar). In August 2008, the project was extended to Mbeya Referral Hospital in Mbeya and Sekou Toure Regional Hospital in Mwanza.
The cost of helping children in Tanzania
- The estimated cost of support for one child for one year is approx. USD 450. This amount covers the full insulin requirements as well as strips, syringes, lancets, etc. for the regular monitoring of the blood glucose levels. In addition hereto, the project also supports children's camps and purchase of refrigerators for the type 1 diabetes clinics as well as computers for updating of patient registries.
Results to date
- The major achievements seen are that the children are surviving longer and more children are being diagnosed early with diabetes (or having heard of the project, many children are appearing at the clinics) and acute complications such as diabetes ketoacidosis are now reduced significantly.
- Diabetes management has been improving due to frequent education being provided. The parents are also increasingly appreciating the importance of good glycaemic control, impact of diet and exercise on diabetes treatment, giving confidence to parents to allow their children to attend camps with peers.
- 80% of the diabetic children are attending school and most of them have joined the secondary school.
- All registered children in the first three sites have been given a glucometer. Each centre has been provided with a computer and peripherals for updating of patient registries.
Background
Life expectancy of a child diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in most African countries is one year.
This is due to factors ranging from low health care personnel capacity to diagnose and treat diabetes, limited availability of insulin and monitoring equipment, lack of cold storage facilities for insulin, cost of insulin etc.
These aspects are coupled with the competing demands on a poor family household in Africa. In a family setting of perhaps parents and 5 children - one having an expensive, chronic and life threatening condition - very difficult choices are made by the parents – do they ensure treatment for 1 child at the expense of schooling for the rest of the children and perhaps food for the entire family?
Relying on statistics, close to 4,000 children/youth with type 1 diabetes should be expected in Tanzania. However, according to Tanzanian Diabetes Association (TDA), in reality the number of type 1 is more likely to be between 500 and 1,000 – this is largely contributable to wrong diagnosis and lack of access to required care and medication, leaving the children/youth to die.
This project seeks to help a group of poor children and youth with type 1 diabetes in urban and semi-urban areas of Tanzania, outside the capital area of Dar es Salaam. Without this project, these children would have limited prospects for surviving into adulthood due to lack of access to regular and good diabetes treatment.
Working through established, well-functioning diabetes clinics - established through another WDF supported project - the project will identify 108 children at five different sites. The children come from low-income families who do not have the resources to maintain their child under good diabetic control.
The local branch of the diabetes association and the diabetes clinic will be in a position to identify those really in need for support. Only children/youth from extremely poor families will receive treatment for free, the rest will be required to contribute towards the treatment according to financial ability. Cut-off age is 18 years with a maximum age for enrolment in the project of 16.
In addition to having access to the required treatment, it is equally important for the children and youth to be able to interact with their peers - other young people in the same situation. The diabetes clinics will facilitate regular meetings amongst the children/youth when they attend the clinic for control and treatment.
Do you want to support this project or arrange a fundraising activity? Please contact: HR & Administration Manager Ms Benita Bertram
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