International DAWN Youth Media Roundtable
Children with diabetes need help to improve school standards
NEW: Watch a video reportage from the event here (video link)
More than half of children with diabetes do not manage their diabetes successfully in school. The kids feel ill, lose their concentration or even suffer from an insulin shock, which can be fatal if not treated on the spot. Still, nine out 10 children with diabetes cannot rely on a school nurse to assist them with their daily treatment. In case of a diabetes emergency, less than a third can rely on help from a school nurse.
The alarming findings of the DAWN Youth survey were presented at an international media roundtable hosted by Novo Nordisk, together with the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescents Diabetes (ISPAD), in Rome in September 2008.
The children with diabetes may not even make it to school. According to the survey, six out of ten under 18 miss school sometimes because of their disease; many seem to even drop out of school earlier than others.
Stakeholders agree on action
Present at the media roundtable in Rome were a unique host of stakeholders from policy makers, to young people with diabetes and their families, the industry and healthcare professionals.
Swedish Cattrin Hurtig, mother of Love (6), described how her son was denied admission to daycare because of his diabetes. The experience jump-started her efforts to improve the conditions for children with diabetes within the Swedish school system. The ministry has since confirmed that it is the school that carries the responsibility towards children and their need for education. “Because of this my son now has a personal assistant in school and the school has a much better understanding of Love’s condition,” said Cattrin Hurtig.
Bringing the message to the European Parliament.
Italian senator Emanuelo Baio gave her political support to strengthening the involvement of both schools and families. She promised to bring the issue to the European Parliament. Representing Novo Nordisk, executive vice president Lise Kingo stressed that she is committed to support the fight for securing equal access to education and a safe school environment for all children with diabetes.
Programme for the media roundtable
- The DAWN Youth survey results
Thomas Danne, Secretary general of the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) - My life with diabetes
Pernille Christoffersen, Member of the Novo Nordisk Youth Panel and DAWN Youth ambassador in Denmark
Lisbeth Wigéll, Pernille’s mother - Children with diabetes do better in school when we work together
Karin Öberg, Headmaster at the Båtsmans School, Sweden
Cattrin Hurtig, Assistant headmaster at the Didaktus School, Sweden - The political fight for equal rights for children with diabetes
Senator Emanuela Baio, Secretary of the Italian Senate Assembly and Presidency Committee, member of the Parliamentary Committee for Children, Italy - Committed to DAWN Youth and changing the future of diabetes
Lise Kingo, Executive vice president and chief of staffs, Novo Nordisk - Q&A session
Read the press release here
Read more about the survey results for DAWN Youth here
For more information please contact us at dawnyouth@novonordisk.com
