On this World Diabetes Day (November 14), Action for Mothers and Children (AMC) is expanding its support to children living with Type 1 diabetes in Kosovo.
Following our donation of insulin pumps and a year’s worth of related supplies for 10 pediatric diabetes patients being treated at the Pediatric Clinic in the Endocrinology Department of the University Clinical Center of Kosovo, AMC has now provided an additional year of essential medical supplies.
This new donation, valued at €15,000, will ensure that these 10 young patients can continue their life-changing treatment without interruption in the coming year.
Lumnije Sylejmani Hasolli, whose 14-year-old daughter Jara was among the beneficiaries, says, “The insulin pump has enabled Jara to be active. It has made her life easier and taken off a huge burden from us as a family.”
For children with type 1 diabetes, daily management can be exhausting and painful. Insulin pumps offer them a chance at a more normal childhood with more stable blood sugar levels, fewer injections and less discomfort. They also bring peace of mind to parents, easing the constant worry that comes with managing this chronic condition.
The mother of another pediatric diabetes patient who received an insulin pump from AMC recently shared with us that for the first time in years, she can sleep through the night without fearing her son might fall into a diabetic coma.
The insulin pump donation prompted many requests from others in need. Many families in Kosovo cannot afford insulin pumps and the supplies that go with them. That’s why AMC and the other NGO dedicated to diabetic patients Tip1omël are advocating for these items to be added to the Essential List of Medical Supplies, ensuring long-term government support for every child who needs them.
Today, AMC and Tip1omël sent the attached advocacy letter to Dr. Afërdita Ukimeraj, chair of the Subcommittee for Reviewing Requests for the Inclusion of Medical Products and Supplies on the Essential List.
The letter underscores the importance of including insulin pumps and related supplies on Kosovo’s Essential List of Medical Supplies, emphasizing that this step would:
- Ensure equitable access to treatment for all children with type 1 diabetes in Kosovo
- Reduce the financial burden on affected families
- Improve long-term health outcomes by preventing diabetes-related complications
- Align Kosovo’s healthcare system with international standards for diabetes care
“Access to modern diabetes care should not depend on a family’s financial means,” said AMC Executive Director Rina Demiri Spahija. “Including insulin pumps on the Essential List would mark a significant step toward equality in healthcare and a better quality of life for children living with type 1 diabetes in Kosovo.”
Tip1omël founder Lisa Mehmeti emphasized that “insulin pumps are not a luxury, but a basic necessity for patients with diabetes.”
AMC and Tip1omël remain committed to advocating for improved healthcare access and outcomes for all children with diabetes in Kosovo.
