Pillar of Health

Having Type 1 diabetes in Sub-Saharan Africa can be a death sentence, but it doesn't have to be. Providing health insurance, also know as mutuelle de sante ($4/person/year) makes insulin cost decrease from $20 to $20 a month.

 This is crucial for survival of children and youth living with Type 1 diabetes in Rwanda.

After providing health insurance, local solutions (vocational training, livestock, etc.) will be used for sustainability of the the program. Advocacy on government and international organizations will be increased for insulin and syringes availability. 

There about 1500 youth and  children with type 1 diabetes in Rwanda and majority (90%) of them cannot afford insulin without health insurance. Without insulin, a child with diabetes cannot live.

This is a global issue and we would like to showcase that it can solved.  The form of health insurance in Rwanda is called mutuelle de sante, under which each individual  has to pay $4 per year of coverage.

With mutuelle de sante,  the cost of insulin is $2 for 2 vials instead of $20 per month.

For sustainability, we will provide livestock to families (depending on their abilities) or send youth to vocational training centers and help them in finding employment.

We will also increase our advocacy for insulin and other diabetic consumables to be available at local hospitals or health centers when needed.

Health insurance is paid through a centralized website called irembo using the ID number of the head of the family.

 After that, automatic message is sent to beneficiary, and if he/she does not have a phone, we communicate to the nurse at the respective hospital.

It uses both computer and mobile phone.

Once the recipient goes to hospital, they only use the ID to identify if his insurance has been paid or not.

It serves youth and children with type 1 diabetes, their families and health system.

The impact is major, by allowing the patients to afford insulin for their diabetes. Allowing everyone in family to seek and get care.

To decrease the stigma and burden related to diabetes and often directed to women and girls.

Communities and health systems are strengthened, and less worry for each party involved, especially during this crisis.

Often when a young girl is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, she drops out of school and feels hopeless. some may even take their lives or not taking are of themselves as they should. 

They also face stigma that they will never grow up to have children of their own, and this also negatively influences the level and quality of self-care.

with health insurance and other support, this increases confidence to girls and helps them to pursue their dreams.