Objectives
The aim is to create awareness about diabetes and increase access to treatment closer to the people in need.
Funds for setting up clinics in Cambodia are allocated in a phased manner; as the funds are raised, establishment of additional clinics is supported. So far four clinics are operating.
The costs of helping in Cambodia
The monthly cost of taking care of one child visiting a project clinic regularly, receiving insulin and strips is 40-50 USD.
Background: Treatment moves closer to the people
Cambodia is now one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking 187th out of 191 countries according to health system attainment. The majority of the people live in a rural setting, and are barely able to support themselves through farming, which gives them a monthly income of less than USD 10.
One hurdle to overcome for people living with diabetes is the distance to treatment.
This issue has been met by the World Diabetes Foundation by coordinating the establishment of two container clinics in Battambang and Kampong Thom. Volunteers from CDA ran the project with the help of donations from Novo Nordisk A/S, containers from Maersk Shipping A/S and equipment from other private sponsors and have been running since February 2007.
With the support from the latest donations, two additional clinics will be built in 2008 in the cities of Siemreap and Kratie, The presence of these clinics will help increase awareness of diabetes and its consequences and strengthens access to treatment in four cities.
Children with diabetes are unrecognised in Cambodia
Type 1 diabetes in children is a condition that is still unknown from general public in Cambodia. An estimate from the Cambodian Diabetes Association (CDA) is that at least 1,000 children with type 1 diabetes live in Cambodia.
According to Lim Keuky, president of CDA, it is most likely that no children with type 1 diabetes are treated in public hospitals: “Cambodian Ministry of Health has no record on number of the children with type 1 so far detected and being taken care of. Only a few paediatric hospitals run by a foreign NGO are the only to provide care and follow up to some 60 known children with type 1 diabetes up 14 years old”, he says and adds: “These children and their families are struggling to live under poor financial, economic, societal, and psychological conditions. I hope we can detect more of these cases and help them.”
The donation and funds raised at meetings in Novo Nordisk in 2006 and 2007 will be used by CDA to help children with type 1 as well as to establish new diabetes clinics receiving insulin dependent patients.
Lim Keuky is eager to start a search for the forgotten type 1 children of Cambodia; he hopes that more cases of type 1 diabetes in children should be detected through radio, television and newspapers. Once found, they should be referred to the clinics running under or cooperating with CDA for care and follow up and ultimately receive means for the children to go to school.
Apart from the fundraising activities, the World Diabetes Foundation is presently supporting four projects in Cambodia in collaboration with operating partners including the Word Health Organization, Cambodian Diabetes Association and the Ministry of Health in Cambodia.
Read more about the inauguration of clinics in Siem Reap and Kratie in February 2008
Read more about the first two clinics here
Do you want to support this project or arrange a fundraising activity? Read how to donate or contact: HR & Administration Manager Ms Benita Bertram
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