In 2021, a new initiative was established in Odessa to enhance medical assistance for children with diabetes. This effort brought together local authorities, healthcare institutions, NGOs, and parents to improve the quality of life for affected children.
Last year, for the first time under the City Health Program, insulin pumps were procured for children with diabetes in Odessa.
Over the past two years, 36 insulin pumps were purchased and installed using municipal budget funds, and 58 children received necessary supplies for these pumps.
For children with diabetes, having an insulin pump means no injections, accurate dosing, and prevention of complications, enabling them to lead an active lifestyle.
Additionally, children with diabetes are provided free installation of continuous glucose monitoring systems. By 2024, over 200 monitoring systems have been installed, preventing significant fluctuations in blood sugar levels.
At the Children's Consultative and Diagnostic Center named after Acad. B. Ya. Reznik, the educational project "Diabetes School" has been launched, offering training for children and their parents on how to improve quality of life and ensure proper nutrition.
This year, with support from the Department of Health and the Department of Education of the Odessa City Council, a project aimed at increasing awareness of diabetes among school staff has begun. 50 teachers have already received information on how to recognize emergency conditions and provide first aid to children with diabetes, and the educational project continues.
"Odessa is the only city in Ukraine that has installed such a number of insulin pumps for children with diabetes in outpatient settings in recent years, and it leads in funding medical assistance for these children from the municipal budget," noted the director of the Reznik Center, Valentina Velichko.
