World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific

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A Response to the Diabetes Epidemic in the Western Pacific

An alliance against diabetes

A concerted response to diabetes in the Western Pacific Region has been launched for the first time by an alliance of strategic partners. Spearheaded by the World Health Organization/Western Pacific Regional Office and the International Diabetes Federation /Western Pacific, the alliance brings together the Secretariat for the Pacific Community, governments and non-governmental agencies in its fight against the ravages of diabetes in the Region.

The strategic partnership follows a call for action made in 1999 at the International Diabetes Federation/ Western Pacific Regional Congress held in Sydney, Australia. The alliance held its first meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 2 to 4 June 2000, attended by about 60 participants from ministries of health, national diabetes associations, national health institutions, WHO collaborating centres and international agencies. Representatives of several major international pharmaceutical companies were also in attendance.

At the end of the meeting, the participants endorsed and signed a declaration as a commitment to combat the rapidly spreading disease. A plan of action to guide governments, health institutions, professional groups, national associations, international agencies and individual health workers to reduce the burden of diabetes was also introduced. The endorsement and signing of the declaration clearly demonstrate the determination of all concerned to address the prevention of diabetes and its complications, as well as the care of millions of individuals currently suffering from the disease and its debilitating consequences. The plan of action emphasizes programmes and services that are affordable, effective and accessible to all.

A regional commitment

The declaration calls upon governments of all relevant countries and areas in the Western Pacific Region, international and regional organizations, public health practitioners and other health professionals to acknowledge the growing threat of diabetes. The alliance urges all stakeholders to give priority to the prevention and control of the disease and its complications through investment in national strategies and programmes. The alliance also emphasizes the need to foster and sustain the investment.

Diabetes programmes, especially primary disease prevention programmes, can be successfully integrated into other programmes that address non-communicable diseases and promote healthy lifestyles and environments. Precedence should be given to health education. Access to quality care, training, essential drug supply and support should be guaranteed to people with diabetes, and action needs to be taken to eliminate discrimination against them. The role of research in advancing and applying knowledge about diabetes too is paramount.

The plan of action

The plan accompanying the declaration translates the call for action into practical terms and covers a five-year period from 2000 to 2004. The plan of action sets out three basic goals, proposes key strategies and specifies expected outcomes by 2004. The goals are:

  • prevention of diabetes in susceptible communities and individuals,
  • prevention of the consequences and complication of diabetes in affected individuals, and
  • enhancement of the capacity of national health systems to deliver and monitor effective services for the prevention and care of diabetes and its complications.
The vision of overlapping strategies emphasizes the importance of an integrated and evidence-based approach. The themes are to build the capacity of health systems and to optimize the use of what is already available. Implementation focuses on the use of strategic partnerships, intersectoral collaboration and measures to ensure equity and access for people with diabetes.

Any sustained action against diabetes must be supported by a coordinated mechanism. The plan proposes that a coordinating body at the regional level will oversee regional implementation, information, financing, and other functions.

The thrust from regional, to national, to local has begun with the formation of the alliance and the endorsement of the declaration and the plan of action. Now the momentum needs to be sustained by national governments. They must recognize the need, raise the priority of diabetes in their public health agendas, and invest resources accordingly.
For more information, contact Mr Charles Raby, Public Information Officer at (632) 528 9983 or email:


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