International Diabetes Federation
Child Sponsorship Program
life for a child
with diabetes
It takes so little … yet means so much!
Be part of the family!! As a partner in the life for a child with diabetes
program, you will receive regular updates on the diabetes centre receiving your
support. You will be kept informed about the progress of those children under
their care with photographs and individual stories. You will be able to see for
yourself the very real difference your $1 a day is making to their health and wellbeing, and their growing hope for the future.
Jacklyne’s Story
For any hope of survival,
Jacklyne and her family move
around, staying on the edge
of larger highland centres,
wherever there are relatives
willing to take them in.
You can help
Become a Sponsor
today!
Jacklyne lives in a remote village in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. There is no
electricity. No telephones. No doctors. Jacklyne is nine years old. She also has
diabetes.
Jacklyne and her family live in poverty. Jacklyne can get insulin but there’s no money
for the equipment she needs to test her blood glucose levels. There is no diabetes
educator. Jacklyne is constantly unwell and painfully thin. She already has problems
with her sight.
Despite past attempts by aid organisations to help children like Jacklyne, these
programs have either not been sustained or the insulin supplies they have been able to
provide were simply not enough.
Who then can she turn to? Her chances of survival are tragically slim…
Diabetes in Developing Countries
The diagnosis of diabetes for any child in any country can be devastating. In developed
countries such as the USA and Australia, most children have ready access to
everything they need to manage their diabetes from the time of diagnosis.
In most developing countries they do not. Families of children with diabetes need to
pay for most or all components of care. The full cost of insulin, syringes and testing
strips alone is between US$300 and US$600 per year. This exceeds the annual
income of many families.
And so the children receive an inadequate insulin dose without monitoring. They are ill
and weak all the time, frequently dropping out of school and later having difficulty
gaining employment or marrying. Some die quickly with uncontrolled hyperglycaemia.
The others develop early complications with kidney failure, blindness and severe
neuropathy developing in their early adult life.
Life For A Child With Diabetes Program
life for a child has been established by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF)
with support from Diabetes Australia. It is an innovative yet sustainable child
sponsorship Program in which individuals and families participate to help children with
diabetes in Fiji, Papua New Guinea and the Philippines. It will be implemented in these
countries by the charity HOPE worldwide in association with the National Diabetes
Association.
The formula is simple. Participants in the life for a child Program part-sponsor the
local diabetes centre, helping them to provide the clinical care, testing facilities and
diabetes education essential to keep these children alive.
Our goals are to provide:

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
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
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sufficient insulin and syringes
blood glucose monitoring facilities
appropriate clinical care
HbA1c testing
diabetes education to country’s best practice level
technical support for health professionals
expansion of the Program to other developing countries
These children don’t have to die
Those who survive can be saved from the certainty of blindness, kidney failure and
limb amputation. It is possible for these children to have a future.
You can help! It will cost you $1 a day to join the Program ($365 each year). You can
pay by all standard methods either monthly, quarterly or annually.
Become a Sponsor today!
*Donations are not tax deductible in Australia or New Zealand at this stage.
*Donations ARE tax deduction in the USA.
How To Become A Sponsor Of The Life For A
Child With Diabetes Program from the USA
Yes, I would like to help provide life for a child
Details (please print)
Mr/Mrs/Ms/Dr/Other
First Name
Last Name
Address:
Zip Code:
Phone(h)
(w)
Facsimile (optional)
Email address(optional)
I would like to contribute as follows:Quarterly at US$92
Annually at US$365
Credit Card authorisation I/We authorise HOPE worldwide
to debit regular payments from my/our credit card as set
out below until further notice.
Visa
Mastercard
Expiration Date
Discover
American
Express
/
Cardholder’s name:
Cardholder’s signature:
Please charge the amount of US$…………………………
to start my sponsorship.
Please find attached my check to start my sponsorship.
Please make check payable to HOPE worldwide.
I would like to make a one time donation for the amount of
US$……………………….
Please complete and return to
Sharon Teems, International Controller
HOPE worldwide Ltd
353 West Lancaster Avenue
Wayne, PA, 19087, USA
Ph: 610 254 8800
Fax: 610 254 8989
Email: Sharon_Teems@hopeww.org
Donations are tax deductible
How To Become A Sponsor Of The Life For A
Child With Diabetes Program
Yes, I would like to help provide life for a child
Details (please print)
Mr/Mrs/Ms/Dr/Other
First Name
Last Name
Address:
Postal Code:
Country:
Phone(h)
(w)
Facsimile (optional)
Email address(optional)
I would like to contribute as follows:Quarterly at US$92
Annually at US$365
Credit Card authorisation I/We authorise Diabetes
Australia-NSW to debit regular payments from my/our
credit card as set out below until further notice.
Visa
Diners
Club
Mastercard
Expiry Date
American
Express
/
Cardholder’s name:
Cardholder’s signature:
Please charge the amount of US$…………………………
to start my sponsorship.
I would like to make a one time donation for the amount of
US$……………………….
Please complete and return to
Mrs Anne Rogers, Programme Co-ordinator
Diabetes Australia-NSW
GPO Box 9824, Sydney, NSW, 2001
Australia
Ph: 61 2 9552 9955
Fax: 61 2 9660 3633
Email: anner@diabetesnsw.com.au
Donations are NOT tax deductible
Contact Details
Mrs Anne Rogers
Program Co-ordinator
IDF Child Sponsorship Program
life for a child with diabetes
Diabetes Australia-NSW
26 Arundel Street
Glebe, NSW, 2037
Australia
GPO Box 9824
Sydney, NSW, 2001
Australia
Telephone: 61 2 9552 9955
Facsimile: 61 2 9660 3633
Email: anner@diabetesnsw.com.au
Update 3 - May 2002
Thank you to all our sponsors for your continued support of the Program, which
is assisting children with diabetes in developing countries. The program is
progressing well, and we expect to have tax deductibility for the program within
a couple of months.
FIJI
Fiji does not have any paediatric diabetes educators, and all health
professionals have very limited training in managing children with diabetes. For
this reason, we arranged for Mrs Angela Middlehurst, an experienced paediatric
diabetes educator at Diabetes Australia-NSW, to visit Fiji in November. Angela
spent two weeks in the country, visiting the three main hospitals - Lautoka and
Suva on the main island of Viti Levu, and also Labasa on the island of Vanua
Levu. Between them, these hospitals care for all the children with diabetes in
the country. Angela trained nurses, doctors, and dietitians, and personally
educated and reviewed the care of many of the sponsored children.
THE PHILIPPINES
Dr Graham Ogle was able to visit the three
centres in Manila that are receiving funds
from the program. These are:

Philippine General Hospital / University of
the Philippines, which receives referrals
from all over the country.

The Philippine Center for Diabetes
Education - a unique clinic situated within
the prestigious private Makati Medical
Center, that cares not only for wealthier
families but also many children and adults
from impoverished situations.

The Institute for the Study of Diabetes at
the University of East Ramon Magsaysay,
which manages many poor patients, and
educates health professionals.
Dr Ogle was able to meet most of the
sponsored children, and all the diabetes
doctors and nurses looking after them, as
well a s the HOPE worldwide (Philippines)
staff who look after the financial aspects of
the program. It was gratifying to see that all
aspects of the program are going according
to plan.
Dr Jose Miranda measuring Eiffel, one
of the sponsored children in the
Philippines.
Four sponsored children at the Philippine Center for Diabetes Education are shown with Roland
Thompson. Roland is a long-term survivor of diabetes, having commenced treatment 55 years ago in the
early days of the Joslin Clinic. He is active in the Diabetes Association, and an inspiration to the
children.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
The two children living in the highlands - Jacklyne and Muo - are doing well,
thanks to the supplies from the program, and dedicated physicians in the
country. One child is being looked after at the Summer Institute of Linguistics
clinic in Ukarumpa, the other is now more secure, living with her father in
Kundiawa, and managed by telephone and fax contact with HOPE worldwide
staff in Port Moresby.
Thank you for your support of the program!
Graham Ogle, Martin Silink, and Anne Rogers
IDF Child Sponsorship Program - Life for a Child with Diabetes
GPO Box 9824, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia
Ph 61 2 9552 9955 Fax 61 2 9660 3633
e-mail anner@diabetesnsw.com.au
Update 2 – October 2001
Thank you to all our sponsors for your support of the Program, which is assisting
children with diabetes in developing countries. The program is gathering momentum we now have 145 regular sponsors.
FIJI
Dr. Shabnam Prakash in Lautoka is very effectively coordinating the program. Children
are being assisted with glucose meters and strips, needles and syringes, and travelling
expenses when necessary to ensure that they can attend hospital reviews. A
workshop, funded by the Ministry of Health, was held in Suva to introduce the program
to the eastern side of the main island. There is now a regular clinic for diabetes
patients in Lautoka.
Lectures are also being held for general practitioners. In November, a diabetes nurse
educator from Sydney will visit Fiji for two weeks to educate the children and their
families, and train the nurses looking after the children.
Priya is a 16 year old Fijian Indian girl who was recently diagnosed to
have diabetes. Nurses from Lautoka Base Hospital are showing her how
to use a glucose meter, which has been supplied by the Program.
Kolinio is now six years old, and lives in Fiji. He
has had diabetes since he was two months old,
and has been on insulin since that time. He has
been in hospital six times for stabilisation of high
and low blood sugar levels. On his last admission,
he was found to have recurrent infections of his
hands and feet, suggesting that he is already
developing complications.
His most recent HbA1c was 10.4%, which is high,
indicating longstanding poor control. We have
provided him with a glucose meter and testing
strips, so that the family can monitor his blood
glucose levels. The more regular visits to the
diabetes clinic will also ensure that he can be
checked for complications, and receive education.
THE PHILIPPINES
The five most needy children at each of the three centres benefiting from the program
have been selected. The three centres are the Philippine General Hospital, Philippine
Center for Diabetes Education, and the Institute for the Study of Diabetes, all in the
Manila area. These fifteen children are being provided with insulin, syringes, glucose
meters, and other needs.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Jacklyne, who was featured in the first update, continues to do well. Another child in
the highlands is receiving assistance with glucose meter strips, allowing her father to
monitor her blood glucose level as necessary.
The key measurement used to monitor control in diabetes - a measure of glycosylated
haemoglobin known as HbA1c, has until now been completely unavailable in the
highlands of Papua New Guinea. The BioRad company have, on our request,
generously donated some samples of a new HbA1c technique, allowing the samples to
be sent by post to Sydney. We now can provide regular measurements for these
children, assisting the physicians looking after them to optimise their management.
We also have begun exploring the possibility of expanding the reach of the program to
assist children with diabetes in Bolivia in South America.
Once again, we thank you and are grateful for your support of the program!
Graham Ogle, Martin Silink, and Anne Rogers
"Life for a Child" Program. GPO Box 9824, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia
Ph 61 2 9552 9955
Fax 61 2 9660 3633
e-mail anner@diabetesnsw.com.au
Update 1 – April 2001
Thank you to all our sponsors for your thoughtfulness and support of the “life for a
child” program, which is now assisting children with diabetes in developing countries.
The program was officially launched at the 17th IDF Congress in Mexico City in
November 2000, and is commencing support in the following three countries:
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Type 1 diabetes in children is very rare in Papua New Guinea. This is fortunate, as
there are no long-term (greater than 5 yrs) survivors of type 1 in the country - the few
cases reported have all died. Most of the people live in villages, with limited access to
health care centres. Very few medical doctors in the country have no experience with
type 1 diabetes. There is a free basic health system, but resources are few. Insulin is
provided by the Government, but glucometers and testing strips have to be purchased
by the families, at premium prices.
There are just a couple of diabetic educators, and they do not have the medical
experience training, dealing with the care, development and the treatment of diseases
that affect children. Papua New Guinea does not have any dietitians at all working in
hospitals. One of the benefits of this sponsorship program will be to educate health
professionals and to support technical queries.
We have tremendous news to report about Jacklyne, the child whose story was
featured in our brochure:
Jacklyne is from the highland village of Mul. She is nine years old, the only child of her
parents, and was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1997. The district where her village
lies was opened up to the outside world in 1949, and even today requires a four-wheel
drive approach along steep mountain roads. The area has no electricity or telephones,
and the Health Centre has no experience with diabetes and is frequently without even
basic medicines. So the family has been forced to stay, living in poverty, with relatives
on the edge of larger highland centres. Jacklyne had been using expired insulin and
was unable to monitor herself. She was thin and unwell, with visual disturbances and
overall in a very dangerous situation.
School in Jacklyne’s Village
However with funds from the “life for a child” program we were able to transport
Jacklyne and her father to Port Moresby General Hospital for education. Distant
relatives working for HOPE worldwide (our partner organisation implementing the
program) provided free accommodation and meals during their stay. She is now in
good control, confidently giving her own injections, (picture below) and performing daily
home blood glucose monitoring, and feeling much healthier. She and her father are
tremendously grateful for the support. They have returned to the highlands, confident
that Jacklyne now has a future.
FIJI
Fiji has a low but increasing number of children with diabetes. Currently there are 12
managed from Lautoka, 6 from Suva, and 3 from Labasa. Insulin is provided by the
Government, but glucometers and testing strips are only available from time to time in
limited quantities in some hospitals. Families need to buy their own needles and
syringes. Like in Papua New Guinea, there are just a couple of trained diabetic
educators.
We have just recently commenced assisting Fiji. Parent education manuals have been
sent, and expert clinical advice provided. Dr. Shabnam Prakash, Paediatrician, a
specialist in the diseases of children, at Lautoka Base Hospital, is organising a meeting
with the paediatricians from each area of the country to inform them of the program and
determine where best the funds can be used.
THE PHILIPPINES
Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is a city of 12 million people. There are around
120 children with diabetes in Metro Manila and surrounding districts. The three centres
looking after these children provide expert teaching but are generally unable to supply
insulin, glucometers, testing strips, urine strips, HbA1c tests, or syringes and needles –
families need to purchase these. A recent study of children from poor families showed
that 40% of children were frequently missing insulin injections, and that none were
having regular HbA1c tests due to financial difficulties.
A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with the paediatric diabetes centres
concerned: the Philippine General Hospital, Philippine Centre for Diabetes Education,
and the Institute for the Study of Diabetes. Over the next two months we will begin to
directly assist the children.
Once again, we thank you for your support of the “life for a child” program!
Graham Ogle, Martin Silink, and Anne Rogers
"Life for a Child" Program. GPO Box 9824, Sydney, NSW 2001, Australia
Ph 61 2 9552 9955
Fax 61 2 9660 3633
e-mail anner@diabetesnsw.com.au