Davao Oriental Launches Insulin Hub Initiative for Children with Type 1 Diabetes
The Provincial Health Office of Davao Oriental has announced a groundbreaking partnership with the global private-public collaboration Changing Diabetes in Children to establish specialized insulin hubs throughout the province. This ambitious program is designed to deliver free insulin treatments to children and young adults diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, significantly enhancing healthcare accessibility for vulnerable populations.
Comprehensive Healthcare Services for Young Patients
Under this innovative initiative, children and young adults aged 0 to 24 years in Davao Oriental will receive completely free insulin alongside essential medical commodities including syringes and other necessary supplies. The program extends beyond medication to incorporate glucometer testing and HbA1c testing, with specialized machines already deployed within provincial healthcare facilities.
Dr. Reden Bersaldo of the Provincial Health Office revealed that while the initial insulin hub has been established at the Mati City provincial health office, immediate plans call for expansion to multiple district hospitals across Davao Oriental. "We will be establishing insulin hubs in the different hospitals of Davao Oriental. Currently, we have only one insulin hub located in Mati City at our provincial health office," Dr. Bersaldo explained during his appearance at the recent Healthy Davao Media Forum held at SM City Davao.
Strategic Distribution and Capacity Building
The insulin distribution strategy focuses on placing treatment centers near patient residences to ensure timely access. "It will be distributed to the different district hospitals near where the patients are residing," Dr. Bersaldo emphasized, noting that this proximity helps children maintain consistent treatment schedules and obtain supplies without delay.
Dr. Ivy Nolasco, Senior Technical Specialist for Inclusive Health at Humanity and Inclusion, highlighted the program's collaborative nature, involving partnerships with both the Davao Oriental local government and the Department of Health. "The project is making sure that children with Type 1 Diabetes have access to services available only in hospitals," Nolasco stated, explaining that services will be established in primary care facilities closest to patients.
Addressing a Critical Health Need
Type 1 Diabetes represents the most prevalent form of diabetes among children, with approximately 32,000 individuals living with the condition in the Philippines according to the Type 1 Diabetes Index. This autoimmune disorder involves the immune system destroying insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, resulting in insufficient insulin production. Regular insulin access is absolutely essential for managing this chronic condition and preventing serious complications.
The Davao Oriental initiative, which commenced in 2024, began with extensive capacity building among healthcare workers throughout the province. "One of the initial steps we did in Davao Oriental to push for the program is capacity building. We trained all our nurses from the Department of Education, whom we identified as primary demand generation sources for patients," Dr. Bersaldo detailed.
Five-Year Program with Expanded Services
This comprehensive five-year program encompasses multiple healthcare components beyond insulin provision. Patients will receive free glucometers for regular blood sugar monitoring, while the provincial hospital has been equipped with specialized machinery for HbA1c or glycated hemoglobin testing. These combined services create a holistic approach to diabetes management that addresses both immediate treatment needs and long-term monitoring requirements.
The establishment of insulin hubs across Davao Oriental represents a significant advancement in pediatric healthcare infrastructure, particularly for chronic condition management in provincial settings. By decentralizing diabetes care and making essential treatments freely available, this partnership between provincial health authorities and Changing Diabetes in Children promises to transform healthcare outcomes for young diabetes patients throughout the region.
