Rwanda Health & Tailoring Project

We’ve partnered with the Rwanda Diabetes Association (RDA) to develop a comprehensive program targeting diabetes education, direct healthcare access, and vocational training. Each year-long program gives 5 young adults the opportunity to learn how to manage their diabetes more independently, link to the national healthcare program Mutuelle de Sante, and to develop sewing skills at the Urukundo Foundation which can be used toward sustainable access to medications and glucose testing supplies. Students are provided lunches, transportation to and from school and healthcare visits, and glucose testing supplies which are not currently provided under the Rwanda national healthcare program. By graduation, fellows are better equipped to control their condition and to earn money to pay for their treatment supplies. As we enroll new students in the program, we continue to support graduates through monthly diabetes educational seminars, subsidizing their medical costs, following their health outcomes with Hba1c testing and quarterly health surveys, and supporting small business start-up costs. Our model is to each quarter financially support these measures less as their income increases.

Sponsor a patient and provide the following:

• 10-month tuition to attend vocational school learn tailoring

• Coverage for National Health Insurance (Mutuelle de Sante): copayments, yearly fee

• Lunch during the school day

• Transport to/from school and health visits

• Monthly diabetes education seminars led by the ARD and sponsored by MFund

• 2 glucose test strips/day for the project duration

Medical Evaluation:

• Quarterly Hba1c and health/economic questionnaire

• Documenting with photo and video

• Diabetes Empowerment International will subsidize healthcare costs at de-escalating increments for the first year after graduation