DAY has started the Select Patient Sposorship Program (SPSP) on World Diabetes Day, 2011 and since then we are supporting the person living with Type 1 & Type 2 diabetes by providing FREE medicine/insulin, supporting for the necessary diagnostic tests, doctor’s consultation. 24×7 support of Diabetes Educators to the under privileged. But over the years we have realized from our sponsored T1Ds and others that T1Ds, irrespective of their socio-economic back ground, are facing lot of challenges to maintain their normal life. So, we have started the T1D Support Group. After discussion with all stake holders, we have also decided to chose the RIGHTS of T1Ds as one of our focus area under Policy Advocacy vertical. As per IDF Atlas, 2017 updated in 2018, India have 128500 T1Ds, which is second highest in the World after USA but till date T1D is not included in Indian Disability Act, 2016 when in USA it is included under severe disability list. More over T1 generally first diagnosed in childhood and it also hamper the common right of RIGHT TO LIVE as per Child Right Act of our country.
In 2011, we have started our support to one T1D Ankita Bardhan and now she is an IT professional and we are PROUD to share that now she is supporting us for other T1Ds. The struggle of Ankita to manage T1D was a big learning for us and in the mean time we found another girl in one of our screening camp in Sonarpur, South 24 Pgs and another T1D girl having lot of complications through our President Dr Debasis Basu. Both are under-privileged and decided to start our support for their insulin & others. One kind hearted person extended his support and one of the T1D was provided with Insulin Pump. The support system of T1Ds have been developed over the time and we observed that apart from FREE insulin, diabetes education to under privileged T1Ds there are lot T1Ds around us, who can afford their medication but they need different support other than those medication.
The learning experience & success stories of our sponsored T1Ds had motivated us to extend this support to other T1Ds and T1D Rights issue was chosen as one of our focus area under Policy Advocacy vertical. We immediately started the discussion with all stakeholders including the competent authorities like West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR).
One of the biggest step was taken by DAY to provide FREE Insulin Pump to 5 T1Ds on 23rd May, 2018 with the support from Medtronic. Ace Indian born international badminton player Nikhar Garg, who is also a T1D, was present on that occasion. As a part of HERO’S CAMPAIGN, 2018, a gala event was organized by DAY at Kolkata. Apart from Nikhar, Ms Anaya Chakraborti, Hon’ble Chairperson of WBCPCR, Ms Sudeshna Roy, Hon’ble Member, WBCPCR, famous actor Parambrata Chattopadhyay were also present. 5 Insulin Pumps were handed over by the guests and an Exhibition Badminton doubles match between Nikhar & other T1D friends and guest was another attraction of the event.
Afterwards, on 14th November, 2018, we have celebrated the World Diabetes Day (WDD) & Children’s Day jointly with WBCPCR and Memorandum of Demand was handed over to Hon’ble Chairperson, WBCPCR as a further step towards our focus area of T1D Rights, inclusion of physical activities in school curriculum, joint school awareness program on NCDs & Child Rights etc. This T1D Support Group shall be major thrust area of DAY activities in coming days and now it’s a separate project under Curative Vertical of DAY. Taking this opportunity, we would like extend our GRATITUDE, on behalf of our T1D Friends to all our Donors, Well Wishers & Member for their continuing SUPPORT over the years and hope to get their KIND SUPPORT for this very important program in future too.