you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] hi there my name is Katrina I’m a
hi there my name is Katrina I’m a
hi there my name is Katrina I’m a pediatrician specialized in
pediatrician specialized in
pediatrician specialized in endocrinology and diabetes and for one
endocrinology and diabetes and for one
endocrinology and diabetes and for one year I worked with Berlin’s refugee
year I worked with Berlin’s refugee
year I worked with Berlin’s refugee Health Unit I’m a doctor and a patient
Health Unit I’m a doctor and a patient
Health Unit I’m a doctor and a patient when I was a kid my immune system had
when I was a kid my immune system had
when I was a kid my immune system had one of my vital organs down and I was
one of my vital organs down and I was
one of my vital organs down and I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes type 1
diagnosed with type 1 diabetes type 1
diagnosed with type 1 diabetes type 1 diabetes means multiple blood sugar
diabetes means multiple blood sugar
diabetes means multiple blood sugar tests and insulin injections everyday
tests and insulin injections everyday
tests and insulin injections everyday and regular visits at a specialist
and regular visits at a specialist
and regular visits at a specialist doctor and the pharmacy in daily life it
doctor and the pharmacy in daily life it
doctor and the pharmacy in daily life it is quite difficult to keep your blood
is quite difficult to keep your blood
is quite difficult to keep your blood sugar levels in range
sugar levels in range
sugar levels in range whatever you do impacts it what you eat
whatever you do impacts it what you eat
whatever you do impacts it what you eat when you’re sick
when you’re sick
when you’re sick physical activity whether you’re nervous
physical activity whether you’re nervous
physical activity whether you’re nervous or excited
or excited
or excited everything can potentially make your
everything can potentially make your
everything can potentially make your blood sugar go up or down too little
blood sugar go up or down too little
blood sugar go up or down too little insulin will result in a high blood
insulin will result in a high blood
insulin will result in a high blood sugar and too much insulin will result
sugar and too much insulin will result
sugar and too much insulin will result on a low blood sugar both can be
on a low blood sugar both can be
on a low blood sugar both can be life-threatening acute events in this
life-threatening acute events in this
life-threatening acute events in this room 100 people at least 20 more of us
room 100 people at least 20 more of us
room 100 people at least 20 more of us have a chronic condition I’m sure there
have a chronic condition I’m sure there
have a chronic condition I’m sure there are people sitting here amongst us who
are people sitting here amongst us who
are people sitting here amongst us who are affected or have a friend or a
are affected or have a friend or a
are affected or have a friend or a family member if you want to show
family member if you want to show
family member if you want to show yourself feel free to do so
I’m here today to talk about a neglected
I’m here today to talk about a neglected group of refugees those with chronic
group of refugees those with chronic
group of refugees those with chronic conditions there are missing people
conditions there are missing people
conditions there are missing people while some arrived most don’t amongst
while some arrived most don’t amongst
while some arrived most don’t amongst the people migrating across borders
the people migrating across borders
the people migrating across borders there is the same occurrence of chronic
there is the same occurrence of chronic
there is the same occurrence of chronic disease as in any population refugees
disease as in any population refugees
disease as in any population refugees face many challenges every day even if
face many challenges every day even if
face many challenges every day even if they do not need medical service but for
they do not need medical service but for
they do not need medical service but for those who do finding access to medical
those who do finding access to medical
those who do finding access to medical care becomes a major challenge without
care becomes a major challenge without
care becomes a major challenge without health insurance many of them have to
health insurance many of them have to
health insurance many of them have to rely on volunteer doctors like my
rely on volunteer doctors like my
rely on volunteer doctors like my colleagues and myself in conflict areas
colleagues and myself in conflict areas
colleagues and myself in conflict areas like war-torn Syria there are only a
like war-torn Syria there are only a
like war-torn Syria there are only a small number of operational hospitals
small number of operational hospitals
small number of operational hospitals left many of them are working
left many of them are working
left many of them are working underground usually civilians and places
underground usually civilians and places
underground usually civilians and places like hospitals are protected by
like hospitals are protected by
like hospitals are protected by international humanitarian law and
international humanitarian law and
international humanitarian law and violation of these laws is considered as
violation of these laws is considered as
violation of these laws is considered as a war crime but in Syria they have
a war crime but in Syria they have
a war crime but in Syria they have become main targets of airstrikes and
become main targets of airstrikes and
become main targets of airstrikes and the hospitals we see on the news today
the hospitals we see on the news today
the hospitals we see on the news today likely won’t be there tomorrow in our
likely won’t be there tomorrow in our
likely won’t be there tomorrow in our refugee health unit we have helped more
refugee health unit we have helped more
refugee health unit we have helped more than 60,000 people since the war in
than 60,000 people since the war in
than 60,000 people since the war in Syria started that is more than two
Syria started that is more than two
Syria started that is more than two hundred people per day half of them are
hundred people per day half of them are
hundred people per day half of them are children amongst these children we have
children amongst these children we have
children amongst these children we have seen many infections one nutrition
seen many infections one nutrition
seen many infections one nutrition psychological trauma but only a few with
psychological trauma but only a few with
psychological trauma but only a few with chronic conditions those that we see in
chronic conditions those that we see in
chronic conditions those that we see in the hospitals of our country every day
diabetes or cancer doesn’t care how old
diabetes or cancer doesn’t care how old you are or if your country is at war
you are or if your country is at war
you are or if your country is at war it just happens also when it will happen
it just happens also when it will happen
it just happens also when it will happen to a child is totally unpredictable
to a child is totally unpredictable
to a child is totally unpredictable working with the refugee health unit we
working with the refugee health unit we
working with the refugee health unit we have received three children with type 1
have received three children with type 1
have received three children with type 1 diabetes among the 60,000 people we
diabetes among the 60,000 people we
diabetes among the 60,000 people we treated
treated
treated there should have been 250 children with
there should have been 250 children with
there should have been 250 children with diabetes
diabetes
diabetes we’re wondering where are those 247
we’re wondering where are those 247
we’re wondering where are those 247 children that should have arrived today
children that should have arrived today
children that should have arrived today I’ll tell you about one of the three
I’ll tell you about one of the three
I’ll tell you about one of the three that did Muhammad who was with us in
that did Muhammad who was with us in
that did Muhammad who was with us in burden now where his chronic condition
burden now where his chronic condition
burden now where his chronic condition can be cared for Muhammad was a
can be cared for Muhammad was a
can be cared for Muhammad was a ten-year-old boy who arrived in Europe
ten-year-old boy who arrived in Europe
ten-year-old boy who arrived in Europe just last month here he’s sitting in his
just last month here he’s sitting in his
just last month here he’s sitting in his hospital bed with his mother and father
hospital bed with his mother and father
hospital bed with his mother and father he is my patient and I’m his doctor and
he is my patient and I’m his doctor and
he is my patient and I’m his doctor and our life stories couldn’t be more
our life stories couldn’t be more
our life stories couldn’t be more different but there’s one thing that we
different but there’s one thing that we
different but there’s one thing that we have in common we both live with type 1
have in common we both live with type 1
have in common we both live with type 1 diabetes every day in both of our lives
diabetes every day in both of our lives
diabetes every day in both of our lives there was a day when our parents got
there was a day when our parents got
there was a day when our parents got extremely worried we were always thirsty
extremely worried we were always thirsty
extremely worried we were always thirsty despite drinking enough we were we
despite drinking enough we were we
despite drinking enough we were we rapidly lost weight despite eating
rapidly lost weight despite eating
rapidly lost weight despite eating enough we were irritable and short of
enough we were irritable and short of
enough we were irritable and short of breath and something was definitely
breath and something was definitely
breath and something was definitely wrong so both of our parents decided to
wrong so both of our parents decided to
wrong so both of our parents decided to take us to the doctor and the doctor
take us to the doctor and the doctor
take us to the doctor and the doctor told our parents your child has diabetes
told our parents your child has diabetes
told our parents your child has diabetes the good news is your child is going to
the good news is your child is going to
the good news is your child is going to live but there is no cure and your child
live but there is no cure and your child
live but there is no cure and your child will have to inject insulin every day
will have to inject insulin every day
will have to inject insulin every day without insulin a small child with type
without insulin a small child with type
without insulin a small child with type 1 diabetes can only survive for up to
1 diabetes can only survive for up to
1 diabetes can only survive for up to two days in my case this was the 14th of
two days in my case this was the 14th of
two days in my case this was the 14th of June in 2001 and for Muhammad it was the
June in 2001 and for Muhammad it was the
June in 2001 and for Muhammad it was the 14th of November in 2015 which was also
14th of November in 2015 which was also
14th of November in 2015 which was also the day when their home town Aleppo was
the day when their home town Aleppo was
the day when their home town Aleppo was hit by severe air strike and ironically
hit by severe air strike and ironically
hit by severe air strike and ironically was also were Diabetes Day after their
was also were Diabetes Day after their
was also were Diabetes Day after their home was bombed Muhammad’s family had no
home was bombed Muhammad’s family had no
home was bombed Muhammad’s family had no choice but to leave and find a new
choice but to leave and find a new
choice but to leave and find a new insulin supply at first they were able
insulin supply at first they were able
insulin supply at first they were able to find it on the black market they
to find it on the black market they
to find it on the black market they could only find it there
could only find it there
could only find it there because the only insulin producing
because the only insulin producing
because the only insulin producing facility in Syria was borned in 2015 so
facility in Syria was borned in 2015 so
facility in Syria was borned in 2015 so insulin had to be brought in from
insulin had to be brought in from
insulin had to be brought in from neighbor
neighbor
neighbor countries such as turkey or the Lebanon
countries such as turkey or the Lebanon
countries such as turkey or the Lebanon and it was of course heavily overpriced
and it was of course heavily overpriced
and it was of course heavily overpriced but diabetes management requires more
but diabetes management requires more
but diabetes management requires more than just access to insulin even in a
than just access to insulin even in a
than just access to insulin even in a hospital setting with diabetes
hospital setting with diabetes
hospital setting with diabetes specialists on hand it usually takes a
specialists on hand it usually takes a
specialists on hand it usually takes a few weeks to get the dosage right
few weeks to get the dosage right
few weeks to get the dosage right Muhammad’s family knew nearly nothing
Muhammad’s family knew nearly nothing
Muhammad’s family knew nearly nothing about how to use insulin but his father
about how to use insulin but his father
about how to use insulin but his father suffers from type 2 diabetes which may
suffers from type 2 diabetes which may
suffers from type 2 diabetes which may have saved Mohammed’s life although type
have saved Mohammed’s life although type
have saved Mohammed’s life although type 2 is quite different from type one
2 is quite different from type one
2 is quite different from type one diabetes and does not require insulin in
diabetes and does not require insulin in
diabetes and does not require insulin in every case
every case
every case Mohammed’s father at least knew how to
Mohammed’s father at least knew how to
Mohammed’s father at least knew how to perform a blood sugar test on his son’s
perform a blood sugar test on his son’s
perform a blood sugar test on his son’s finger and at least what the numbers
finger and at least what the numbers
finger and at least what the numbers meant after some time they were unable
meant after some time they were unable
meant after some time they were unable to find insulin anywhere in Syria’s so
to find insulin anywhere in Syria’s so
to find insulin anywhere in Syria’s so they tried to feed to Europe and took
they tried to feed to Europe and took
they tried to feed to Europe and took the risk to travel overseas which was
the risk to travel overseas which was
the risk to travel overseas which was the next big challenge for Mohammed’s
the next big challenge for Mohammed’s
the next big challenge for Mohammed’s family the decision to leave is already
family the decision to leave is already
family the decision to leave is already a challenge but their journey itself is
a challenge but their journey itself is
a challenge but their journey itself is risky and without support along the way
risky and without support along the way
risky and without support along the way when refugees fleeing towards Europe
when refugees fleeing towards Europe
when refugees fleeing towards Europe need medical aid there’s no guarantee
need medical aid there’s no guarantee
need medical aid there’s no guarantee that a doctor or hospital will take them
that a doctor or hospital will take them
that a doctor or hospital will take them in without being integrated into the
in without being integrated into the
in without being integrated into the local hospital systems they might be
local hospital systems they might be
local hospital systems they might be unable to afford or request medical
unable to afford or request medical
unable to afford or request medical attention
attention
attention Mohammed’s family fled to Turkey over
Mohammed’s family fled to Turkey over
Mohammed’s family fled to Turkey over the border and then paid smugglers for
the border and then paid smugglers for
the border and then paid smugglers for passage to Greece and into Europe most
passage to Greece and into Europe most
passage to Greece and into Europe most Mugler’s who take people over the
Mugler’s who take people over the
Mugler’s who take people over the Mediterranean Sea forced them to leave
Mediterranean Sea forced them to leave
Mediterranean Sea forced them to leave everything behind so they don’t sink
everything behind so they don’t sink
everything behind so they don’t sink Muhammad’s father secretly kept one
Muhammad’s father secretly kept one
Muhammad’s father secretly kept one thing the insulin and saved his son’s
thing the insulin and saved his son’s
thing the insulin and saved his son’s life Mohammed’s parents like all parents
life Mohammed’s parents like all parents
life Mohammed’s parents like all parents in and outside this room were willing to
in and outside this room were willing to
in and outside this room were willing to do absolutely everything to save their
do absolutely everything to save their
do absolutely everything to save their child’s life
child’s life
child’s life what would you do if there was no way to
what would you do if there was no way to
what would you do if there was no way to survive a few more days in this country
unfortunately not every family wins this
unfortunately not every family wins this fight and in some cases weiter
fight and in some cases weiter
fight and in some cases weiter medication gets thrown overboard
medication gets thrown overboard
medication gets thrown overboard so this story is also for them when
so this story is also for them when
so this story is also for them when Muhammad’s family left Syria they had no
Muhammad’s family left Syria they had no
Muhammad’s family left Syria they had no idea what would be waiting for them
idea what would be waiting for them
idea what would be waiting for them they were hoping to find a safe place
they were hoping to find a safe place
they were hoping to find a safe place where Muhammad could survive but they
where Muhammad could survive but they
where Muhammad could survive but they didn’t know the camps in Greece would be
didn’t know the camps in Greece would be
didn’t know the camps in Greece would be just as overcrowded as those in Syria
just as overcrowded as those in Syria
just as overcrowded as those in Syria and the neighboring countries with
and the neighboring countries with
and the neighboring countries with terrible hygienic conditions and that a
terrible hygienic conditions and that a
terrible hygienic conditions and that a long episode of hardship and monotony
long episode of hardship and monotony
long episode of hardship and monotony was waiting for them even after arriving
was waiting for them even after arriving
was waiting for them even after arriving a Europe the time it took for
a Europe the time it took for
a Europe the time it took for integration and acceptance became a
integration and acceptance became a
integration and acceptance became a burden the family split up in Greece
burden the family split up in Greece
burden the family split up in Greece Muhammad’s mother went ahead to Germany
Muhammad’s mother went ahead to Germany
Muhammad’s mother went ahead to Germany with their two younger siblings
with their two younger siblings
with their two younger siblings immediately applied for asylum and the
immediately applied for asylum and the
immediately applied for asylum and the application process for the family to be
application process for the family to be
application process for the family to be reunited and safety but it would take
reunited and safety but it would take
reunited and safety but it would take another one and a half years from 2015
another one and a half years from 2015
another one and a half years from 2015 to this year for Muhammad to brought in
to this year for Muhammad to brought in
to this year for Muhammad to brought in to his mother and that was also the
to his mother and that was also the
to his mother and that was also the first chance to see a pediatric diabetes
first chance to see a pediatric diabetes
first chance to see a pediatric diabetes specialist he had arrived in Europe and
specialist he had arrived in Europe and
specialist he had arrived in Europe and survived without any real support from
survived without any real support from
survived without any real support from any European medical system the patients
any European medical system the patients
any European medical system the patients we treated have all suffered hardship
we treated have all suffered hardship
we treated have all suffered hardship first the situation in their home
first the situation in their home
first the situation in their home country that forced them to leave then
country that forced them to leave then
country that forced them to leave then the long journey and finally even
the long journey and finally even
the long journey and finally even logistical and administrative challenges
logistical and administrative challenges
logistical and administrative challenges upon arrival the health check-up on
upon arrival the health check-up on
upon arrival the health check-up on arrival in Europe is sometimes the first
arrival in Europe is sometimes the first
arrival in Europe is sometimes the first opportunity to see a doctor in weeks
opportunity to see a doctor in weeks
opportunity to see a doctor in weeks months and sometimes even years in
months and sometimes even years in
months and sometimes even years in Greece all Muhammad’s family hype was
Greece all Muhammad’s family hype was
Greece all Muhammad’s family hype was only one type of insulin in the form of
only one type of insulin in the form of
only one type of insulin in the form of a drug we mostly don’t use in Europe
a drug we mostly don’t use in Europe
a drug we mostly don’t use in Europe anymore and no specialist to support
anymore and no specialist to support
anymore and no specialist to support them under these conditions Mohammad
them under these conditions Mohammad
them under these conditions Mohammad only survived by luck and thanks to the
only survived by luck and thanks to the
only survived by luck and thanks to the support of his family
support of his family
support of his family can we really claim to be taking proper
can we really claim to be taking proper
can we really claim to be taking proper care of those in need even after they
care of those in need even after they
care of those in need even after they have arrived mm that’s what type one
have arrived mm that’s what type one
have arrived mm that’s what type one international
international
international diabetes activist group estimates as the
diabetes activist group estimates as the
diabetes activist group estimates as the number of Syrians in dire need of
number of Syrians in dire need of
number of Syrians in dire need of insulin before the war diabetes like
insulin before the war diabetes like
insulin before the war diabetes like most chronic health conditions was a
most chronic health conditions was a
most chronic health conditions was a manageable disease in Syria yet suddenly
manageable disease in Syria yet suddenly
manageable disease in Syria yet suddenly it has become a death sentence not only
it has become a death sentence not only
it has become a death sentence not only in Syria but around the globe today
in Syria but around the globe today
in Syria but around the globe today people with type 1 diabetes and
people with type 1 diabetes and
people with type 1 diabetes and humanitarian crises are dying for those
humanitarian crises are dying for those
humanitarian crises are dying for those who stay the economic situation is often
who stay the economic situation is often
who stay the economic situation is often so bad that they cannot afford to eat or
so bad that they cannot afford to eat or
so bad that they cannot afford to eat or drink
drink
drink so how would anyone be able to buy
so how would anyone be able to buy
so how would anyone be able to buy medication for those who leave finding
medication for those who leave finding
medication for those who leave finding access to medication and doctors is even
access to medication and doctors is even
access to medication and doctors is even more complicated when they get stuck at
more complicated when they get stuck at
more complicated when they get stuck at refugee camps or at closed borders today
refugee camps or at closed borders today
refugee camps or at closed borders today there are over 50 million people
there are over 50 million people
there are over 50 million people violently uprooted from their homes that
violently uprooted from their homes that
violently uprooted from their homes that is about 250,000 people with type 1
is about 250,000 people with type 1
is about 250,000 people with type 1 diabetes without structure and safety
diabetes without structure and safety
diabetes without structure and safety without access to insulin and diabetes
without access to insulin and diabetes
without access to insulin and diabetes education that is as many as the
education that is as many as the
education that is as many as the population of this city living in a dire
population of this city living in a dire
population of this city living in a dire life-threatening reality this is a
life-threatening reality this is a
life-threatening reality this is a terrifying number but numbers and
terrifying number but numbers and
terrifying number but numbers and statistics don’t always tell us enough
statistics don’t always tell us enough
statistics don’t always tell us enough about who these people actually are
Mohammed is a story about the individual
Mohammed is a story about the individual person behind those numbers it is a
person behind those numbers it is a
person behind those numbers it is a story about that everybody has a name
story about that everybody has a name
story about that everybody has a name that everybody is somebody that
that everybody is somebody that
that everybody is somebody that everybody has a story and a medical
everybody has a story and a medical
everybody has a story and a medical history during war bombs and guns are
history during war bombs and guns are
history during war bombs and guns are not the only things that kill people for
not the only things that kill people for
not the only things that kill people for many it is the lack of infrastructure
many it is the lack of infrastructure
many it is the lack of infrastructure that is their death sentence a skilled
that is their death sentence a skilled
that is their death sentence a skilled person or a helping hand and their daily
person or a helping hand and their daily
person or a helping hand and their daily challenges can save lives and access to
challenges can save lives and access to
challenges can save lives and access to the systems of care that we are so proud
the systems of care that we are so proud
the systems of care that we are so proud of can be the difference between
of can be the difference between
of can be the difference between survival and death for the 247 missing
survival and death for the 247 missing
survival and death for the 247 missing children we can support organizations
children we can support organizations
children we can support organizations like type 1 international or Doctors
like type 1 international or Doctors
like type 1 international or Doctors Without Borders
Without Borders
Without Borders that are going beyond our national
that are going beyond our national
that are going beyond our national borders to help for those who arrive and
borders to help for those who arrive and
borders to help for those who arrive and live in the refugee camps next door each
live in the refugee camps next door each
live in the refugee camps next door each one of you can contribute by making our
one of you can contribute by making our
one of you can contribute by making our own neighborhoods a safe place for them
own neighborhoods a safe place for them
own neighborhoods a safe place for them so they can live a life in safety in
so they can live a life in safety in
so they can live a life in safety in peace and in dignity thank you
peace and in dignity thank you
peace and in dignity thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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