Bolivia
Bolivia
October 2005
The landlocked country of Bolivia, in Central South America, has substantial challenges. It is the poorest country in South America, and the Government struggles to provide needed medications for all citizens. We commenced supporting Bolivian children with diabetes in 2003, in partnership with Rotary Clubs in Florida (USA) and Cochabamba (Bolivia). The Rotarians – Larry Deeb and Wayne Edwards and others - won a grant from the Rotary Foundation which led to sufficient funds to institute a program to care for virtually all children with diabetes in Bolivia. The program provided care and education from clinics in the seven major cities across the country – La Paz, Santa Cruz, Cochabamba, Sucre, Potosi, Tarija, and Oruro. Dr. Elizabeth Duarte and colleagues at the Centro de Educación e información VIVIR CON DIABETES in Cochabamba, coordinated the program. 101 children and adolescents were cared for, benefiting from regular and adequate insulin supply, the higher quality care permitted by monitoring, and also workshops and education sessions.
The program was such a success that we have continued support in 2005. We have teamed with Insulin For Life – a Melbourne-based organisation that send unused insulin to developing countries. Life for a Child is covering the costs of collecting and sending 1,500 vials of insulin per year – enough for 100 or more children and adolescents, as well as 10,000 testing strips – enough for 30 children to monitor seven times per week.
May 2003
We have established a partnership with Rotary in the USA to provide insulin and glucose testing supplies to children with diabetes in Bolivia. Funds from our Program have been matched by Rotary in Florida with this being matched again by Rotary International. The Program will be administered by Rotary in Bolivia.