Description
Background
Safe insulin storage remains a major challenge in humanitarian and off-grid settings. In Kalobeyei Settlement, Turkana County, Kenya, temperatures often exceed 40°C, and most households lack electricity. Without refrigeration, insulin potency is compromised, affecting adherence and increasing complications. Through the Non-Communicable Diseases Continuity in Crisis project, insulin-dependent patients co-designed and tested a locally adapted, electricity-free storage solution to improve adherence, enhance self-care, and reduce health facility dependence.
Methods
Implemented by Kenya Red Cross Society with Danish Red Cross technical support and Novo Nordisk Foundation funding, the project introduced a modified clay pot innovation. Pots were wrapped in blankets, placed in sand- and charcoal-lined pits, and used evaporative cooling to maintain safe storage temperatures. Prototype testing confirmed internal ranges of 18–28°C, within WHO’s ≤30°C guideline. Following validation, 30 insulin-dependent clients received pots and training. Community Health Promoters (CHPs) provided household follow-ups to reinforce use, dispel myths, and monitor outcomes.
Results
The intervention directly supported 30 insulin-dependent clients and indirectly reached over 200 caregivers through sensitization. Treatment adherence improved, with skipped doses reduced by over 60%, while daily facility visits for refrigeration declined. Hospital visits for uncontrolled diabetes decreased, and patients reported greater confidence in self-care. Temperature monitoring confirmed stability, with morning averages of 24.9°C and evening averages of 28.6°C. Challenges included 15% pot breakages and myths around insulin expiry, mitigated through education and pot replacement.
Conclusion
The clay pot insulin innovation shows that low-cost, culturally adapted solutions can sustainably address critical NCD care gaps in fragile, off-grid contexts. Scaling to other refugee and drought-prone regions, embedding into national NCD in emergencies preparedness plans, and developing systematic monitoring frameworks are recommended for sustainability.
Keywords:
Diabetes Mellitus; Insulin Storage; Evaporative Cooling; Refugee Health; Humanitarian Innovation
| Country | Kenya |
|---|---|
| Organization | Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) |
| Position | Project Officer |
| Received a Grant? | Yes |
| If yes, give grant details | The project is being funded by Novo Nordisk foundation through Danish Red Cross. |
