Click on the link below to watch our video about getting access to medicine in third world countries.
The struggle of children in Rwanda represents a microcosm of the global problem – there are not enough test strips, insulin and education about diabetes all over the world.
A wide variety of worldwide health care systems seek the WHO-sanctioned goal of good health, responsiveness to the expectations of the population and fair financial contribution. Evaluation of health systems includes the “Five C’s”: Cost, Coverage, Consistency, Complexity and Chronic Illness. Also, continuity of health care is a major objective.
Diabetes is one of the primary chronic diseases that all health systems attempt to address, developing a variety of different models to resolve this issue. And while all health systems struggle with providing a good model to care for this population, diabetes simply does not see the level of funding dedicated to other chronic diseases. For example, WHO and Global Fund recognize and provide extensive medical coverage for HIV, TBC and malaria. Yet diabetes treatment has no sustainable model or funding from organizations such as WHO, CDC, UN. So countries need to make good, sustainable policies to take care about diabetes.
There have been European Union (EU) recommendations on cancer screening and rare disease, as well as the European Pact for Mental Health and Well Being. There is one major disease that has not received the focus – Diabetes. EU and large number of its Member States are yet to develop National Programs or Strategies for diabetes.
The Macedonian Ministry of Health has developed a model for the distribution of diabetes supplies, which has proven effective for many years. TT1 will adapt and employ the Macedonian model, primarily within developing countries as well as others.
Since insulin and test strips with glucose meters are required for patients with diabetes:
- Centralized government procurement of insulin is recommended for one to two years in order to achieve discounted pricing.
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines http://guidance.nice.org.uk/CG for treating patients with insulin
- Networking of all diabetes institutions in order to follow the national registry of patients, which will be developed if the infrastructure does not exist
TT1 will collaborate with other foundations, international health organizations, first-world governments and others to raise funds for buying and donating diabetes supplies to countries in need. TT1’s approach is also to advocate for government involvement toward providing supplies for its own diabetes population.
TT1 will measure its impact through:
- Improvement of managing blood glucose
- Improvement of Hb A1c measurements
- Governments provision of diabetes supplies (insulin, test strips, etc.)
TT1 is donating one year supply of test strips and glucose meters for the estimated 900 kids and adults with Type 1 diabetes in Rwanda to the Ministry of Health in honor of World Diabetes Day.
By providing test strips and education, TT1 expects to observe improved management of blood glucose, improvement of A1c, and fewer hospitalizations and resources spent on dialysis, retinopathy and chronic wounds. The Epidemiological statistics to monitor this progress will be overseen by the Diabetes Associations and National Public Health Centers or Non-communicable diseases (NCD) divisions.
Recent studies indicate that the application of appropriate treatment (insulin and test strips) will delay or even prevent long-term complications from diabetes, including heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, blindness and even gangrene and amputation of lower limbs. These disorders include a group of so-called chronic diabetic complications, whose genesis includes vascular disorders.
Diabetic ketoacidosis and hypoglycemia that fall into the group of acute complications of diabetes may be reduced to a minimum by means of educating patients and the application of preventive measures and the newest therapeutic treatment available by pharmaceutical industry.
While the Rwanda project is underway, TT1 will continue to collaborate with other countries within the region, and also nations where the diabetes incidence is highest.
TT1 will collaborate and advocate for solutions to improve the lives of those within developing countries who suffer from diabetes, along with key partners such as WHO, CDC, IDF, UN, UNESCO, World Bank and other Private Foundations.