OUR PROJECTS: EL SALVADOR

DIABETES FOUNDATION OF EL SALVADOR

The Project:

Fundacion Manos del Sur supports ASADI, the Salvadoran Diabetes Association, the local foundation that provides medical care and education for diabetic children born into poverty.   One hundred percent of the proceeds donated to ASADI goes to the purchase of insulin and medical supplies.

What is diabetes : It is a chronic disease marked by elevated blood sugar levels, cause by the body's inability to produce insulin or the body's resistance to insulin.

Consequences of Lack of Treatment:

• Blindness
• Renal Failure
• Cardiovascular disease & heart failure
• Amputations of extremities (toes, feet, hands due to poor circulation)
• Death

If property treated, DIABETES IS A MANAGED CONDITION

Diabetes is easily treated by:

• Taking insulin as prescribed
• Eating a healthy balanced diet
• Measuring blood sugar levels several times a day
• Getting proper exercise

The Children:

The 100 children in the program and their families cannot afford treatment and they do not qualify for basic medical insurance. Medical costs per month per child of treating the disease can be as high as $100 per month depending on severity of the their condition. This does not include the cost of medical visits, and education of children and their families on managing the disease, which requires acceptance, proper nutrition and the knowledge on how to administer treatment.

Location: San Salvador, El Salvador Start date: February 2004

Our Goals Our sponsor a child program will provide the children with the necessary medical supplies they need to manage their condition.

DIABETIS IS A PANDEMIC

According to IDF and the United Nations:

• Diabetes kills as many people as HIV/AIDS, yet awareness of the disease is low
• 200 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes, or 5% of the population
• Responsible for over 1 million amputations each year
• It is a major cause of blindness world-wide
• It is the largest cause of kidney failure and responsible for most dialysis costs
• Millions die every year – the majority unnecessary deaths from complications of improper treatment
• Social & economic consequences due to lack of productivity in working adults and rising health care costs.  

Resources:

http://www.unitefordiabetes.org/

http://www.jdf.org