Children with Ongoing Illnesses in Need

Children with Ongoing Illnesses in Need (COIN) is a child sponsorship scheme for children with chronic illnesses within the catchment area of Wellspring Children’s Medical Centre.

AIMS

To provide an improved quality of life for children with chronic illnesses such as Sickle Cell Disease, HIV/AIDS, diabetes and epilepsy, whose life expectancy is greatly diminished and whose social circumstances prevent them from receiving the regular medical attention they require.

REGISTRATION, FOLLOW-UP PROCEDURES & FUNDING

• Child must physically present at the Wellspring clinic together with parent/guardian where he/she will be examined and assessed by a member of the medical team.
• A full history of the child’s past and present health, family status, social & economic status and any medical treatment, past and present, will be recorded.
• Members of the medical team will visit the child’s home to analyze the living/social status of the family. All details are to be recorded.
• A sketch map will be made for easy directions to the child’s home.
• The above details will then be sent to Dr Pauline Hutchinson in the UK and the case for admission on the register will be discussed and considered by the UK Just Care medical team.
• Criteria for registration will include
  • Each child must be under 18 years; the younger child will be considered a priority
  • severity of illness
  • degree of poverty and social need

ADMINISTRATION OF COIN

• Each child registered will be sponsored by individuals or organisations from the UK for a minimum of 12 months.
• A photograph of the child together with social, family and medical details will be sent to each sponsor
• 12 month sponsorship is £25 per month, £300 per year.
• Money can be transferred to the Just Care account either by cheque or standing order. All donations can be subject to the Gift Aid procedure if requested.
• Funds will be sent to the Just Care Uganda account every quarter and will be transferred to Wellspring as required.
• This sponsorship will provide finance for the following:
  • Regular medication such as vitamins, analgesics, antibiotics
  • Lab investigations performed at Wellspring
  • Costs incurred for any necessary hospitalisation (maximum of 2 hospital visits per year)
  • An allowance for a medically approved diet
• Records will be kept for each child of all costs incurred by Wellspring ie cost of medication and lab tests.
• Medication will be dispensed monthly
• Record will be kept of any hospital costs
• Receipts and medical reports will be requested from the referral hospital following hospitalisation
• The parent/guardian of each child will be given an appropriate diet sheet.
• A cash allowance of 35 pence daily will be provided for purchase of food as recommended on the diet sheet.
• Every 3 months a financial record of all costs for each child will be sent to the UK medical admin team.
• Each child will be reviewed every 3 months and record of progress sent to the Medical Admin team. This information will then be passed on to each sponsor.
• In the event of the death of a child the sponsor will be informed immediately. They can then decide whether they wish the remainder of the sponsorship money to be refunded or transferred to another child.