The foundation of team type 1 and Abbott Laboratories donated glucose meters and 12 million test strips to people diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in Rwanda, on 16th January 2020.
Glucose meters and test strips are medical device for determining the approximate concentration of glucose level in the blood. These are important tools to help people manage their glucose level however, some living with Type 1 diabetes are unable to afford meters or test strips.
According to the STEPS Survey 2014, Diabetes prevalence in Rwanda is 3 per cent and 2,000 among the patients have type 1 diabetes.
The donation was as a result of a good partnership between the Ministry of Health Rwanda and the two organizations. The donation will be running for the next four years.
Abbott Laboratories is an American medical devices and health care company with headquarters in Abbott Park, Illinois, United States.
Team type 1 is an organization based in Atlanta, striving to instill hope and inspiration in people around the world affected by diabetes
The Government of Rwanda responded to the global call to tackle the increased burden of diabetes by ensuring improved access and quality of care is delivered at all level of the health system including primary health facilities close to the population, said Dr. Patrick Ndimubanzi, The Minister of State in Charge of Public Health and Primary Health care in Rwanda. The fight against diabetes and other NCDs is a high priority on the agenda of the Ministry of Health and will continue to work with all our partners to mitigate the impact of this deadly disease, The Minister of State insisted.
“We are thrilled to bring this initiative to life and help support the Rwandan diabetes community,” said Bernard Brisolier, Business Unit Director for Abbott’s Diabetes Care business in Africa. “By working together with the Ministry of Health and Team Type 1 Foundation, we will empower thousands of people living with diabetes in Rwanda to monitor their glucose levels and manage their diabetes, which will help them lead healthier and fuller lives.”, he added.
“It is a dream come true to receive this donation from Abbott. Since 2010, the Team Type 1 Foundation has been present in Rwanda through the Tour of Rwanda and our work with the Rwanda Diabetes Association. We have seen the will of the people to succeed against the challenges diabetes presents, which is why Team Type 1 has been so dedicated for the past 10 years to advance access to diabetes care in Rwanda,” Team Type 1 Founder and President Phil Southerland said.
The type of glucose meters donated are FreeStyleOptium Neo glucose meter and FreeStyleOptium test strip.
FreeStyleOptium Neo glucose meter
How glucose meters work
A small drop of blood, obtained by pricking the skin with a lancet, is placed on a disposable test strip that the meter reads and uses to calculate the blood glucose level. The meter then displays the level