Guyana’s fight against chronic non-communicable diseases has been stepped up over the years, as the Health Ministry, in collaboration with partners, continues to host sensitisation programmes aimed at informing both parents and their children about treatment, therapy, and proper lifestyles.
Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy with children who were part of the diabetes camp
On Saturday, August 20, at the opening of the third annual Diabetes Youth Camp, held at the Splashmins Camping Ground, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy said the aim of the initiative is to educate children and their caregivers on managing their condition, thereby reducing susceptibility to other health challenges.
He said the camp for children living with type one diabetes mellitus is unique, as it is not only aimed at sensitising young persons living with diabetes, but also their parents.
“It brings the parents and children together so the parents, too, can share their experience,” Dr Ramsammy said. “It is not a very easy thing for a child to live with diabetes. It is not easy at all for an adult to live with diabetes. And if you could imagine adults are having difficulty living with diabetes, think of a child living with diabetes.” The minister believes that having such programmes will give much comfort to both parents and children, as they would be better able to interact with persons who experience the same problems.
“We can go a long way to making the lives of children and of their parents easier. That is what this camp is intended to do – to share an experience to see how some are managing their situations better than others, and for us to learn.” There are 54 families in Guyana suffering from diabetes, 34 of them are part of the diabetes registry.
The two-day camp brought together 19 families from across the country.
“It doesn’t mean that all children are not benefiting from our programme. We hope that one day we could have all of them in here.” Ramsammy said it is a very unique thing to have citizens of any country see the majority of their children “not only benefiting from our programmes, but as a part of a common family trying to take care of the children.” He stressed that, despite efforts to fight the dreadful disease, it remains a big problem here. The minister, however, stressed that the problems here are not unique to Guyana.
“…we have learnt a lot about diabetes, and we can, in fact, reduce the impact.
“All of these children benefit from having technology in the home. A few years ago, you had to wait till you go to the hospital to know the sugar level of the child. Today we are bringing that technology in the home.” He added that, through the summer programme, the participants are given glucometers and other tools needed for them to determine their sugar levels at home, instead of having to frequent the hospitals or health centres to so do.
“We have made a commitment that they would have glucometers as regularly as possible. All children receive their own glucometers. They can administer themselves with the novopen (insulin pen) the newest technology that avoids the trauma of injecting the person by measures we used to have in the past.” The minister added that the government and the sponsors of the programme have committed to ensuring that children living with diabetes lead normal, healthy and productive lives.
“Responsibility is not limited to one person or group. We need to ensure that these children could go to school, their diabetes will not stop them. They can grow into adults with as little complications as possible.”
International recognition
Minister Ramsammy said Guyana continues to gain international recognition as a result of the tremendous work being done to fight diabetes in all citizens.
‘We believe that the UN should have a special focus on children living with diabetes.
Guyana has put on the agenda those things like glucometers, the novo pen; that should qualify for special concessionary rates.” Those instruments, the minister said, should fall within the Millennium Development Goal eight, which calls for special concessions to be granted to countries. Once such is done, Ramsammy said, equipment could be provided at a more affordable cost to countries and to people.
