Sweet Resilience: From Diabetes to Determination
How free and easily available treatment is fueling dreams in Chhattisgarh
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April 2025 | Jashpur, Chhattisgarh - When 11-year-old Pallavi Tamrakar first heard the word “diabetes,” she didn’t fully understand what it meant.
In March 2003, at the tender age of nine, a terrible stomachache during a family trip to Odisha led to a hospital visit and tests that revealed sugar in her urine. Soon after, a doctor gently explained that she would need insulin injections every day, for the rest of her life.
“I cried when they showed me the insulin. The needles looked so scary,” Pallavi recalls. But today, she speaks with quiet confidence. “If I’m old enough to have diabetes, I’m old enough to take my own injections.”, she says, matter-of-factly.
Pallavi injects herself calmly and without fuss. It’s become part of her routine, like brushing her teeth or packing her school bag. What once filled her with fear has become an act of resilience — and a source of strength for her family.
Her younger brother, once terrified of injections, now finds the courage to watch his sister’s fearless routine. He would shy away from vaccinations, but now watches her bravely and doesn’t flinch during his own shots.
Behind Pallavi’s strength is a resilient source — her father, Vivek Tamrakar. Having lost his wife when Pallavi was just three, Vivek has made it his mission to provide his daughter with the best possible care.
He even found a school with unusual hours — from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. — to help her manage her insulin schedule at home and eat properly before class.
“She’s too sweet for this world,” says Vivek with a smile, “but she’s stronger than any of us.”
Pallavi has channelled her strength into dreams that go beyond the horizon of the condition. Inspired by the doctors who treat her with kindness and respect, she now hopes to become a doctor herself.
“My doctors don’t treat me like a child – they talk to me, answer all my questions, explain my progress to me and encourage me. I want to be like them too and help those who can’t afford to pay for their treatment, “says Pallavi.
Already, Pallavi’s generous nature shines. While other children plan parties and gifts for their birthdays, Pallavi insists on distributing sweets to the poor instead. “They deserve something sweet too,” she says simply.
Thankfully, Pallavi’s journey is supported by more than just love and hope. UNICEF’s Childhood NCD Programme in Chhattisgarh integrates childhood NCD care into primary health systems, helping children with NCD to be treated more effectively than ever before.
Since May 2024, Sangwari, a local NGO, has also been helping the District Health Department to ensure better care for T1D patients like Pallavi. The insulin is available in Jashpur, which is convenient for Pallavi and her father to access regularly — addressing what could have been a major financial and logistical barrier for the family.
Dr. Laxmikant Aapat, who coordinates the district’s non-communicable disease (NCD) activities, says, “This initiative is making early diagnosis and lifelong treatment possible for many children like Pallavi. With technical support from Sangwari and UNICEF, we’ve trained community health workers, created symptom charts, and even developed IEC for awareness
With regular screenings and follow-ups, children with conditions like Type 1 diabetes, sickle cell disease and congenital heart disease are identified earlier than ever before and are being supported with free treatment.
As for Pallavi, the sky is the limit. “I want to wear a white coat and carry a stethoscope,” she says, beaming. “But I’ll never forget what it feels like to be patient. I’ll be the kind of doctor who listens.”
With her unwavering spirit and compassion, Pallavi is a proof that with the right support, even the greatest challenges can be overcome, and transformed into strength.
