By: Ahmad Shabir
Anantnag: What could prove to be a major relief for the young adults and children suffering diabetes, the endocrinology department of Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in collaboration with the International Diabetic Federation will provide free insulin, syringes and testing strips to them.
The facilities including insulin, syringes and testing strips will be provided to these patients under life for a child (LFAC) program run by Australia based diabetic institute.
The institute has initiated a registration process in this regard, asking the parents of the children suffering diabetes to get registered for free supply.
SKIMS last year started a pediatric endocrinology OPD for children and young diabetic population. Hundreds of patients even below the age of 10 are registered with the department seeking treatment for diabetes.
Since most of these young diabetics have to be insulin dependent lifelong and find it hard to afford the insulin, strips , gluco-meters and syringes, SKIMS endocrinology department signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Australia based charity group , international diabetic federation. The IDF agreed to partner with SKIMS to provide support to the young diabetics seeking treatment from the institute.
Head of department , endocrinology , Dr Shaqir Masoodi , taking to social networking site, Facebook expressed his gratitude and sincere thanks to the people running ‘The life for a child’ program particularly Bruce King, Graham Ogle and Sumitra for signing an MOU with SKIMS.
Masoodi in the social media post said that the MOU will help them to manage better the children and young adults with diabetes in Kashmir.
Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong condition requiring daily insulin injections, daily blood glucose monitoring, education and special healthcare. “Access to this life saving treatment is often difficult and sometimes impossible, to achieve in under-resourced countries. Without support many young people die soon after being diagnosed as their lifelong treatment becomes expensive,” Masoodi further wrote.
The department, a doctor in endocrinology department said has already distributed gluco-meters, testing strips, insulin and syringes to dozens of diabetic children having registered themselves for free material.
“We have seen many such young diabetics suffering for want of treatment due to their poor financial strength. This program will prove to be of great relief for poor children being treated for diabetes as they will get all the material free. Besides workshops will also be conducted to educate these patients,” the doctor said.
LFAC program was established in 2000 by international diabetes federation (IDF) in response to the desperate situation facing many young people with type 1 diabetes in less resources countries. Since its inception program has been managed by Diabetes NSW in Sydney.
