By Merith Basey | Director of International Operations
In March 2012, AYUDA's local partner the FDJE (Fundacion Diabetes Juvenil Ecuador) and AYUDA implemented a type 1 diabetes training workshop for local doctors in the region of Santa Elena. A total of 29 doctors attended the program, held in the main public hospital in Santa Elena. Santa Elena was chosen due to the low level of diabetes education among health workers and the high number of children supported by the FDJE in the region. The region currently has just 1 doctor per 10,000 people.
Home visits to a number of the children living with type 1 diabetes and their families were also carried out. In total 50 children are fully supported by the FDJE's sponsorship program for low-income families. The support provided includes diabetes supplies, education and follow up. Since the average monthly income in the Santa Elena region is estimated to be $260 per month, provision of what would otherwise be unaffordable diabetes supplies (such as insulin, syringes and blood glucose strips) is important. Diabetes education however is just as important as insulin and therefore the home visits and local education workshops are crucial.
In addition, a weekend family education program was held in Quito, Pichincha. A total of 110 people participated, including children, youth and their parents. AYUDA and the FDJE are currently in preparations for this summer’s activities, including the Volunteer Training Program Summit in Washington which concluded on Sunday April 1st.
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