UDP Highlights Since 1990 over 1900 children with diabetes have each received diabetes supplies Each child has received 10 hours of diabetes education Over 1.9 million dollars worth of diabetes supplies have been provided to these children in Ukraine UDP has participated in camps in seven regions of Ukraine including Cherkasy, Poltava, Kharkiv, Vinnitsa, Ternopil, Sukak, and Kiyiv Printed 2000 Ukrainian diabetes manuals

In November 2002 two Rotarians, Mr. Paul Stychno and Mr. Robin Marrs, of the Santa Rosa West Rotary Club, traveled to Kiyiv to make presentations to the three Rotary Clubs there on behalf of the Ukrainian Diabetes Project. The Santa Rosa West Club proposed linking hands with one of the Kiyiv Rotary Clubs for the purpose of finding funds to support diabetes education and treatment programs for children in the Kiyiv region. The Rotary Club of Kiyiv, the city’s oldest, enthusiastically agreed to work with the Rotary Club of Santa Rosa West.

Santa Rosa West Rotarians in Kiyiv: Paul Stychno and Robin Marrs with Nikolay Royenko of Kiyiv Rotary

The first step, that of finding a partner club in Kiyiv, has been done. The next step centers on applying for a Rotary grant to send a team consisting of professionals in diabetes education and at least one Rotarian to Kiyiv next year. This group will work with the Rotary Club of Kiyiv, the Diabetes Charity Fund of Kiyiv and the Ukrainian Diabetes Project to conduct a detailed assessment of equipment and material needs for the children’s hospital in Kiyiv and the summer camp for diabetic children. The team will also research costs of equipment and sources of supply. This trip may occur as early as April or May of 2003.

Using the needs survey as their basis, the two Rotary Clubs will then seek to raise funds and will apply for matching grants from Rotary International in Chicago. If the application is successful, all Rotary grant funds directed to Kiyiv will be administered by the Rotary Club of Kiyiv under the direction of Ms. Nadyezhda Osipova who will work with Ms. Natalia Vlasenko and Ms. Natalia Manzheley of the Kiyiv Charity Fund.

The Santa Rosa West Rotary Club has been an avid supporter of the Ukrainian Diabetes Project. In addition to funding the trip to Kyiv in November, the club provided funds for printing the latest revision of the diabetes education instructional manual for the children of Ukraine (UDP Prints 1000 Manuals). This manual, printed in Ukrainian, was presented officially to the International Diabetic Association of Ukraine and the Diabetes Charity Fund of Kiyiv at the 10th Annual World Diabetes Day Exposition and celebration in Kyiv in November. Unfortunately, the shipment of manuals has been held in Ukrainian customs. Hence Rotarians from both Kyiv and Santa Rosa worked hard to have the manuals released to the Diabetes Charity Fund of Kiyiv as soon as possible.

The UDP wishes to express their sincere thanks to Paul Stychno and Robin Marrs for spearheading this program. The UDP would also like to express profound appreciation to the Rotary Club for their on-going enthusiastic support.

In a joint effort with Mission Relief Services and Counterpart International, the Ukrainian Diabetes Project has shipped a 40-foot container filled with medical supplies to Ukraine. The recipients in Ukraine include the Diabetes Charity Fund of Kiyiv and OXMADIT, a children hospital. Over $90,000 worth of various medical supplies were sent in November. Over the summer, UDP contacted Jim Harrison of Mission Relief Services and together started making plans to collect medical supplies and ship them to Ukraine.

Mission Relief Services staff loading medical supplies

Mission Relief Services has a history of mobilizing and directing medical supply donations throughout the world including the former Soviet Union. “Jim Harrison and his crew worked extremely hard to pull this endeavor off. UDP was thrilled to be able to collaborate with them,” Skrypka noted.

If all goes well with this first shipment, UDP plan to send 9 more containers over the year. “We are currently observing how smoothly this first shipment passes through customs and makes it to our affiliates in Kiyiv.” Skrypka acknowledges “Customs is often the most difficult part of the process”. If all goes well, we’ll be shipping future containers on a regular basis. In the past, the UDP has supplied diabetes supplies to the children and their families. This joint effort allows a more comprehensive collaboration between UDP, the children’s hospital and the Diabetes Charity Fund of Kiyiv by providing basic office supplies to sophisticated medical supplies in addition to the annual camp support and educational trainings.

To learn more about Direct Relief Services visit their website at: http://www.missionrelief.com.

UDP:Describe this summer’s diabetes camp. NV:The popularity of diabetes camp grows each year. There are more families registering. This year 100 children and 20 parents participated in the two-week sessions. In an informal survey 100% of the families want camp to continue while 72% gained new knowledge to help manage their diabetes. All participants checked blood sugars daily and recorded them on a poster board which fostered a “competitiveness” between the campers to improve blood sugar levels. All children received diabetes education from medical staff. Many sports and cultural events were offered to the campers.

Natalya Manzheley and Natalya Vlasenko Co-directors of the Diabetes Charity Fund.

UDP:Are things improving for the camp?

NV:Yes, especially a new collaboration between regions of Ukraine whereas children from Chernihiv region attended our camp.

UDP:What are your greatest needs?

NV:Blood testing strips continue to be our greatest need. Other needed items include teaching materials, sports equipment, sleeping bags, and a video camera

The Ukrainian Diabetes Project is now looking forward to the next 10 years of continued service to the children with diabetes in Ukraine. The UDP officially began in 1992 through the auspices of a non-profit organization Promoting Enduring Peace, based on the East coast. Later, in 1995 it became an official humanitarian aid program of the Diabetic Youth Foundation of Walnut Creek, California

It all started in 1990 when Andy Skrypka, a diabetic for over 30 years, learned about the Ukraine’s lack of insulin, a life saving medication for any person with Type 1 diabetes. She also learned that all diabetics in Ukraine were considered invalids, and in fact many children died on account of their diabetes. Having discovered that most diabetics in Ukraine lacked the knowledge needed to live with this condition, she went to work to make a difference. Every summer since, Skrypka a certified diabetes educator and registered dietitian, packs her bags and gathers thousands of dollars worth of diabetic supplies. Accompanying her over the years as part of the medical team are doctors, nurses, dietitians, fellow diabetics, Ukrainian-Americans, pharmaceutical representatives, friends and even family. All members volunteer their time teaching diabetes education to the children and parents, distributing diabetes supplies, and/or assisting in various ways. Back in the United States, volunteers help with the organization of shipping supplies, fund-raising events and office operations, just to name a few tasks. UDP has sponsored exchanges between summer diabetes camps with the Diabetic Youth Foundation.

So far, over $1.9 million worth of diabetes supplies have been provided to the diabetic children in Ukraine. Over 1,900 children have received supplies.

So what’s next? Over these 10 years, Ukraine now offers more diabetes camps to children and their families. An insulin producing factory is up and running near Kiyiv. Blood testing strips are available to buy at the pharmacy, unfortunately the cost makes them prohibitive. However, some families are willing to pay the price.

UDP’s work is not done however. Impressing upon the government the value of making affordable diabetes supplies will be an uphill battle; convincing medical professionals that diabetes is a self-managing disease will take more time; improving the quality of diabetes camp is an on-going process.

“There is a shortage of educational material in Ukraine” Skrypka states matter of factly about diabetes educational material for children with diabetes. “It is a shame. Most of the education material is for the physician and seldom does it find its way into the hands of the people who need it the most. This is probably due to the fact that the concept of self-management is slow to be adopted by the medical professionals” Skrypka explained. The idea of self-management of diabetes takes the control out of the doctor’s hands and puts it in the hands of the patient. This is the model for treating individuals with chronic diseases, such as diabetes. Even places in the USA are slow to realize this.

Presentation of the diabetes manual in Ukraine at the 10th Annual World Diabetes Day Exposition .

To support this concept, Dr. Luther Travis has printed one of the most important manuals on diabetes care titled An Illustrated Guide to Diabetes Mellitus, a manual for children with diabetes. It is now in it’s 14th edition and 2nd Ukrainian edition.

The UDP first printed and distributed 1000 Ukrainian copies of the manual in the various regions they were working in in 1994. Then in 1996, US-AID upgraded this version and printed another 5000 copies. These were distributed through the organization PATH, working with US-AID. Last year an appeal was made to UDP for more manuals. One thousand copies were printed and shipped to the Diabetes Charity Fund of Kiyiv. Distribution has already begun.

Meet Taras Borozinets. He first came to the UDP in 1993 with his father, Fedya. They lived in Kiyiv, but made the car drive to Cherkasy to attend diabetes classes they had heard about through an American visiting Ukraine. “They immediately made an impression on me on how committed they were to learning everything they could about living with diabetes and were willing to travel over 2 hours to do it” Skrypka remarks. Every year they would make contact with Skrypka to find out the dates she’d be traveling to Ukraine and plan to be there..

Taras with his parnets Nina and Fedya Borozinets.

Taras is now 20 years old, going to the University and works as an accountant. He checks his blood sugar daily with the strips provided by UDP. He also takes insulin 3 times a day to keep his blood sugar under better control.

The UDP operates solely from individual contributions like yours. Every summer, our medical team volunteers their time to educate the diabetic children and their families in Ukraine and to provide them with diabetes supplies.
We can only continue our efforts with your help. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their generous support.
Although we wish we had the space to list all gracious contributors, we would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the following individuals who have donated $100.00 or more.
Beth & Iver Alenciks, Carol Newton Babbini, John Batz, Carolyn Bildstein, Renata Bihun, George & Helen Brenner-Ttee, Larry Carbine, John & Mollie Carroll, Nell Carroll, Tom & Patrice Cory, Bruce Coston & Margaret Bregger, John & Nina Derkach, Audre Dioli, R.G. Ecob—Ttee, Georgia & Emory Elliott, Ambrose & Kay Furey, Barbara & Gary Greensweig MD, Lois Gresh, Roy & Isabella Ingles, Lesley & Jim Jercich, Rich & Brook Holve, Dorothea Joos, Conrad & Catherine Kellenberg, Peggy & Wayne Mraz, Wayne & Deena McCarthy, Marilyn Olson, Stan Poncia, Patria and Ronald Priore, John & Cynthia Rathkey, Shama Roderick, Milo & Neil Shepard, Christina & Andrew Tershakovec, William Thomas, Barbara & Tim Tuscany, Doug & Thelma Wissig, Children’s Diabetes Foundation of the North Bay, Inc, Committee to Aid Ukraine - Children of Chernobyl Fund, Edwin Carroll Memorial, Helen M. Harrison Foundation, JGS Pharmacies Inc, Santa Rosa-West Rotary Club, Barbara Tuscany (REPORT editor)
Supply Donation This year's supplies were donated by the following: Bayer Corporation , Diabetic Youth Foundation, Roche Diagnostics