The Lions of Kenya have created an innovative program by bringing together their strong partnership with Special Olympics Kenya and the global vision of reducing the prevalence of diabetes. Over the past 18 months, the Lions of Kenya have provided two screenings, reaching almost 800 individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) and their families, including identifying four previously undiagnosed diabetics and initiating treatment. This work mirrors the innovative, global philanthropic leadership of Lions Club International Foundation (LCIF) in forging social inclusion through service.
Led by PID Dr. Manoj Shah, the relationship with the Lions of Kenya and Special Olympics Kenya has grown significantly over the years. Lions SightFirst Eye Hospital in Nairobi was recognized by Special Olympics and the Golisano Foundation as a recipient of the 2019 Golisano Global Health Leadership Award, during a ceremony held previously this year at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi. The award recognized the Lions SightFirst Eye Hospital’s commitment to inclusive health, which has resulted in the prescription of more than 1,000 pairs of glasses for Special Olympics athletes, 15 pro-bono surgeries and numerous dental and audiological procedures.
During a visit in August 2019 by Ann Costello, executive director of the Golisano Foundation, Ms. Costello experienced first-hand why the Lions SightFirst Eye Hospital was selected as the top partner in Africa. She commented, “In visiting the Lions ‘Eye Hospital,’ I see not just an eye hospital but also a diabetes centre, a dental clinic. I see wrap-around care and the one-stop shop of health. It is a very progressive model for the country, the continent and the world. I haven’t seen this level of integration anywhere else in the world.”
The Lions SightFirst Eye Hospital is also the site for the new Diabetes Care Centre, which was opened by PIP Dr. Naresh Aggarwal in 2017. With a first-class facility available to respond to Lions Clubs International’s call to reduce the prevalence and impact of diabetes, the Lions of Kenya took it upon themselves to ensure that their diabetes program was inclusive of individuals with ID.
As with many health issues found in people with ID, there is surprisingly little research describing how prevalent diabetes is in this population, what the risk factors are, what the costs are and how to prevent the condition. However, Special Olympics global data reveals that 69% of athletes over the age of 20 are obese or overweight, ranging from 23% in the Africa region to over 73% in the North America region1. A Canadian study suggests that the prevalence of diabetes in the ID population is 1.5 times the rate of the general population (16% versus 9.7%) and that people with ID are 2.6 times more likely to be hospitalized for diabetes-related conditions, thus recommending that screening for diabetes start at age 30, rather than at age 402. Additionally, certain syndromes, such as Down syndrome, are highly associated with diabetes, and studies suggest that people with Down syndrome have 4 to 35 times greater prevalence of Type 1 diabetes compared to the general population3,4.
With these alarming statistics in mind, the Lions of Kenya, through the Lions SightFirst Eye Hospital, partnered with Aratus Health Limited and arranged diabetes screening events in Eldoret and Machakos, reaching nearly 800 individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families. The screenings included an assessment of risk factors, and it was found that 22 individuals were overweight, but no hypertension was recorded. Eleven individuals were found to be existing diabetics, while four new diagnoses were made and 40 individuals were referred to the Diabetes Care Centre at the Lions SightFirst Eye Hospital for further investigation and care.
Lion Arv Kalsi, the coordinator of the Diabetes Program for LCIF in District 411A, was excited about the impact of the pilot events and the prospect for future events. “With so little being done to include individuals with ID in diabetes programs, we’re pleased that we’re able to assist Special Olympics in developing standard operating procedures for screening this population and also helping other Lions clubs and districts willing to engage individuals with ID in their diabetes initiatives. We feel that we have created a comprehensive model that addresses awareness, education, early diagnosis, follow-up care and management as well as addressing the common vision and podiatric complications associated with diabetes – and look forward to sharing our experiences with others.”
Learn more about LCIF’s partnership with Special Olympics.
Annemarie Hill is the senior director in Global Development at Special Olympics International.
1 Special Olympics. Special Olympics Healthy Athletes Program Data. Healthy Athletes Prevalence Report. 2018
2 Balogh et al. Disparities in Diabetes Prevalence and Preventable Hospitalizations in People with Intellectual and Developmental Disability: A Population-Based Study. Diabetic Medicine. 32: 235-242. 2015
3 Bregholdt R, Eising S, Nerup J, Pocoit F. Increased Prevalence of Down Syndrome in Individuals with Type 1 Diabetes in Denmark: A Nationwide Population-Based Study. Diabetologia. 49:1179. 2006
4 Anwar A, Walker J, Frier B. Type 1 diabetes mellitus and Down's syndrome: Prevalence, Management and Diabetic Complications. Diabetic Medicine. 15:160-3. 1998
