Ensure diabetic kids get proper care in schools, education boards told

New Delhi: Taking cognizance of petitions from parents of children suffering from juvenile diabetes (type 1 diabetes mellitus — T1DM), the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has written to the CBSE and all other education boards a sking them to i ssue a circluar asking schools to put in place protocols to ensure children suffering from it get necessary support during examina tions and in their daily class routine. Similar letters have also been sent to Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya schools.

NCPCR chief Priyank Kanoongo has asked the heads of all boards to share the circular with the Commission within 30 days. Kanoongo has said that as children spend one-third of the day in school, it’s the duty of schools to ensure tha t children with T1DM are provided with proper care and necessary facilities.

NCPCR has said the circular to be issued must ensure that a child with Type l diabetes who requires a midmorning or mid-afternoon snack should be permitted by the class teacher to have it. “During exams, children may be permitted to carry sugar tablets with them. Medicines, fruits, snacks, drinking water, some biscuits, peanuts, dry fruit should be allowed in the exam hall and kept with the teacher, and, if required, these items shall be given to children during the examinations,” it said.

The staff should permit the child to carry a glucometer and glucose testing strips inside the exam hall which may be kept with the invigilator or teacher, it added.

According to data available from the International Diabetes Federation Diabetes Atlas 2021, India has the world’s highest number of children and adolescents suffering T1DM, with more than2. 4 lakh children and adolescents (age group 0-19 years) in southeast Asia.

The T1D Index has estimated 8. 7 million people (children and adults) with T1D in India alone. “People with T1DM require 3-5 injections of insulin along with the same number of blood sugar tests every day, for a life time. Absence or disruption of standard care affects their physical and mental well-being, and can even be fatal. Children and adolescents living with T1DM face several challenges,” the Commission highlighted in its letter.

While appreciating the efforts made by CBSE for taking out a circular in 2017 for students suffering Type I diabetes and appearing for board exams, the Commission feels that there is an urgent need to help improve the quality of Iife of these children.