Better Health and Better Care

Severe non-communicable disease (NCDs) among children and young adults in the rural areas

OUR PARTNERS

The Challenge

Chronic care services for these severe conditions such as type 1 diabetes (T1D), sickle cell disease and rheumatic heart disease are only available at
referral hospitals in major cities. Treatment is inaccessible
and unaffordable for the rural poor. As a result, many poor children and
young adults go without treatment for these severe conditions that almost
always lead to premature death if left untreated.

In Uganda in 2022, 1 in 3 young people with T1D died without a diagnosis. The number of people living with T1D was estimated at 16,090 in 2022. The average number of healthy years lost to T1D per person (diagnosed at 10) is 48.6 years.

Our Repsonse

Integrating chronic care services for T1D, sickle cell disease and rheumatic heart disease. We help with diagnosis, symptom management, psychosocial support, palliative care, and referral for surgical and other specialty care when necessary.

We have designed our flagship programme – SugarWise Starlets. SugarWise is rooted in the World Health Organisation’s Package of Essential NCD Interventions (WHO PEN Plus) strategy.

Through our flagship programme – SugarWise – which is rooted in the World Health Organisation’s Package of Essential NCD Interventions (WHO PEN Plus) strategy, we carry out the following:

1.    Screening for T1D: We train school nurses and teachers to conduct initial screenings. We also provide confirmatory laboratory tests at our Bright Life Medical Centre, ensuring early diagnosis.

2.    Caring for Starlets at Home: We have designed Essential Care Protocols for caregivers. We identify, train and organise caregivers. We distribute diabetes kits and offer psychosocial counselling.

3.    Caring for Starlets at School: We train teachers and school nurses in insulin administration, creating personalised care plans, using diabetes kits, promoting empathy among peers of patients, offering emotional support, educating children with diabetes (SugarWise Starlets) on diabetes management, and establishing reminder systems for check-ups and treatments.

4.    T1D Advocacy and Awareness:  Through our Bold AIMS Movement, we raise awareness and advocate for T1D patients. We help children with T1D to play with non-diabetic peers.

5.    Facilitating Safe Physical Activity: We educate Starlets about the importance of regular physical activity in diabetes management and help them develop personalized exercise plans tailored to their diabetes type, medication, and fitness level. We identify and train fitness instructors in schools and support schools in creating inclusive environments for pupils with T1D during physical activities.

6.    Preparing for Transition to Adulthood: We mentor Starlets in developing essential life skills as they transition into adulthood and take greater responsibility for managing their diabetes.

Our Impact