Children with diabetes in Kenya face uncertain future as insulin donors signal retreat

The article draws on the Foundation’s report to highlight the challenges children and young people (CYP) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face in accessing diagnosis and treatment for type 1 diabetes (T1D), despite ongoing donor-backed support. While current companies-backed initiatives provide essential resources—such as insulin, monitoring tools, and education—the report finds they remain insufficient to meet rising needs. 

Claudia Martínez, Director of Research at the Access to Medicine Foundation, is quoted in the article as saying: “Hundreds of thousands of children and young people in low- and middle-income countries face significant barriers to accessing essential insulin, supplies and care for managing Type 1 diabetes. While the pharmaceutical industry is engaged in the effort to bridge access gaps, as needs grow, initiatives must prioritise widespread coverage, sustainability and affordability to save lives. Reliance on donations is a fragile system and therefore should be withdrawn.”  

As the article presents, two major initiatives in Kenya have played a key role: Lilly’s Life for a Child and Novo Nordisk’s Changing Diabetes in Children (CDiC). Since its launch in 2009, CDiC has supported 6,100 children and refurbished 41 clinics. Kenya is also one of only two countries where the programme has undergone a third-party review to assess its impact. 

The article concludes by underscoring the report’s call for companies to move beyond donations and collaborate with governments to develop sustainable diabetes care systems, ensuring that all CYP, regardless of location, have access to lifesaving treatment.