Jacklyne | Life for a Child with Diabetes

Jacklyne's story inspired the program

Jacklyne is a nine-year-old child from the highland village of Mul in Papua New Guinea. An only child, Jacklyne was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1997. The area where Jacklyne's village is located was inaccessable to the outside world until 1949. Even today, reaching Mul requires a difficult, four-wheel drive along steep mountain roads. The area has no electricity or telephones. The local Health Centre has no experience with diabetes care and frequently lacks even the most basic medicines. Jacklyne's family live in poverty, foced to stay with relatives on the edge of larger highland centres.

Before your money made a difference, Jacklyne was using expired insulin and could not monitor herself. Thin and very unwell, she was close to death.

Using funds from 'Life for a Child', we were able to transport Jacklyne and her father to Port Moresby General Hospital for education and treatment. Workers at HOPE worldwide (our partner organisation in implementing the program) provided free accommodation and meals during their stay.

Jacklyne's diabetes is now under good control. Jacklyne, as you can see from this picture, is now confidently giving herself injections and monitoring the levels of glucose in her blood. Jacklyne is now much healthier. So much so that she and her father have returned to the highlands, confident that Jacklyne now has a future.

Jackelyn and her family are tremendously grateful for your support.