News releases
New partnership to tackle rising cases of diabetes in the Western Pacific Region
At least 30 million people in the Western Pacific Region, mostly in their productive years, are suffering from diabetes, half of whom are unaware they have diabetes. This figure is expected to double by 2025 unless measures are taken to raise awareness of the growing health problem of diabetes and ensure access to both prevention programmes and adequate medical care. The increase in diabetes has been attributed to changes in lifestyle related to urbanization and the ageing of populations, and is particularly associated with overnutrition, physical inactivity, and obesity.
In a major and combined effort to address the problem at all levels, the World Health Organization Western Pacific Region (WHO/WPR) and the International Diabetes Federation Western Pacific Region (IDF/WPR), in collaboration with the South Pacific Commission (SPC), have worked together to establish a strategic alliance through the joint development of the Western Pacific Declaration on Diabetes. The aim is to work together to improve and strengthen strategies for the prevention and control of diabetes and its many complications.
A joint meeting will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 2 to 4 June 2000 to endorse the Western Pacific Declaration on Diabetes and the proposed Plan of Action. Some 70 participants, including diabetes experts, IDF Member Associations, development agencies, government representatives, and pharmaceutical companies, will attend the meeting.
The major expected outcome of the meeting is the endorsement of a Declaration, which will lay down the basic strategies for halting the massive rise in diabetes and its complications, and the formulation of a detailed Plan of Action to guide governments, international agencies, NGOs and pharmaceutical companies, in the practical steps which need to be taken to reduce the health burden of diabetes and its complications.
A press conference will be held on Sunday, 4 June 2000 at 1400 hrs, at the Hilton Hotel in Kuala Lumpur to inform the press with regard to these issues.
For more information, contact Mr Charles Raby, Public Information Officer at (632) 528 9983 or email: