FAQ’s
FAQ's
What is the Life for a Child Program?
The International Diabetes Federation’s Life for a Child Program is an international aid program that provides life-saving medication to children with diabetes in developing countries.
The Program works with diabetes centers in these countries to provide the clinical care and diabetes education that the children in their care need to stay alive. The centers provide comprehensive clinical and financial feedback. The goals of the Program are to provide:
- Sufficient insulin and syringes
- Blood glucose monitoring facilities
- Appropriate clinical care
- HbA1c testing
- Diabetes education
- Technical support for health professionals (if requested)
The Program aims to raise awareness of the plight of children with diabetes in the countries in which it is present and encourages governments to establish appropriate care to safeguard the future of children with diabetes.
Why is the program necessary?
In many developing countries, children with diabetes suffer because insulin and other diabetes supplies are not affordable or sometimes not even available. Many children die soon after diagnosis. Many others face the burden of complications while still young.
How many children does the program support?
The International Diabetes Federation's Life for a Child Program supports the care of 1000 children in the following countries: Tanzania, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Azerbaijan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Uzbekistan, Bolivia, Mali, Ecuador, Sudan and Cameroon.
What is the connection to World Diabetes Day?
The theme for the 2007 and 2008 World Diabetes Day campaign is “Diabetes in Children and Adolescents.” In an effort to raise awareness that children get diabetes and to highlight that No Child Should Die of Diabetes, the campaign made it a goal to double the number of children supported by the IDF Life for a Child Program.
The goal for the Program in 2008 is to build sufficient capacity to support a further 500 children with diabetes.
The World Diabetes Day campaign supports the program by giving proceeds of sales from all merchandize to Life for a Child. Help us to help children with diabetes to realize their potential by purchasing your blue circle diabetes pin, World Diabetes Day crayons and other merchandize at www.worlddiabetesday.org.
How is the program supported financially?
The Program is supported by donations from individuals, diabetes representative organizations, Rotary International and companies working in diabetes. Funds to support the Program are also generated by the International Diabetes Federation through the sale of World Diabetes Day merchandizing. Most individual donors contribute a dollar a day. Support is provided to recognized diabetes centers to purchase insulin and syringes, and provide monitoring and education. Financial trails and the health outcomes of the children are carefully monitored.
How do I become a sponsor?
You can donate online at www.lifeforachild.org. In certain countries including the United States, your donation is tax deductable.
You can also help the Life for a Child Program by purchasing World Diabetes Day merchandize from www.worlddiabetesday.org.
If I become a sponsor, what feedback will I receive?
You will receive a posted update every six months, giving details on the progress of the program around the world. The update includes pictures and stories of the children supported by the program. You will also receive receipts for your donations.
Is my support directed to a particular individual child?
It is not possible to direct support to an individual child for the following reasons:
- The cost per child generally exceeds the donation made by an individual.
- Donors in different countries and situations give different amounts.
- There are ethical problems involved with specifically linking sponsors and potentially ill children.
If you wish, we can direct your support to a particular country.
How can I be sure that the money gets to help the children?
Financial trails and health outcomes are carefully monitored. We require detailed and regular financial information from recipient centers, including bank statement information, receipts etc. Where appropriate, expenditure of funds is overseen by a local branch of an international NGO or Rotary Club. The centers also send an annual list of the children who are supported, along with full medical details on each child.
What proportion of my donation is used for administration?
For personal donations, 30% is used for administration and program oversight. The program oversight includes monitoring of health status and also, where appropriate, advice to the centers. As the program is small, and is helping in a number of sites, this 30% does not cover our full program management costs, but the remainder is absorbed or covered by other donors.
For corporate donations, between 15 and 25% is used for administration and oversight, depending on source and costs involved.
Can my association or company help?
We welcome interest from associations and companies. Please contact Dr Graham Ogle.
Developed country associations can support the program by making a donation or by encouraging their members to consider becoming sponsors. Already, the Australian, Dutch, New Zealand, Swedish, Norwegian and German Associations have assisted.
Companies have assisted the program in various ways. One company asked its employees to donate funds to establish the program in three new countries.
Are old blood glucose meters of any use?
Unfortunately, we cannot use your old glucose meters. This is because different countries use different meters and supplies or require expertise that may not be available in the recipient country.
Can the program help children with diabetes in my country?
Unfortunately, we cannot help with requests on behalf of individuals in particular countries. We do welcome requests from diabetes centers caring for children in developing countries. Please contact Dr Graham Ogle. Once a request is received, we send a questionnaire asking for full details. Our funds are very limited, but we have been able to steadily expand the program since it began, and hope to expand further in the future.
Have we answered your question? If not, send us your question by e-mail.