International Diabetes Experts converge on Mauritius rates highlight the escalating diabetes locally and throughout Africa
BRUSSELS, Belgium – (Marketwire – November 12, 2009) – The Republic of Mauritius in collaboration with the World Health African Region and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) today opened an international conference on diabetes and related diseases in Port Louis, Mauritius to highlight their concern about the rapid growth of the diabetes epidemic throughout Africa. The conference will run from November 12 and ends November 14 – Day World Diabetes.
The pan-African conference will feature regional director of WHO and African health ministers from 46 African countries, of WHO and the WHO Global Afro, experts IDF, diabetes and other leading experts around the world to discuss current issues, the latest developments and practical management and prevention of diabetes and its complications. Participants will also take stock of recent data scientists on the best practices to combat the epidemic of diabetes and related complications-http: / / www.gov.mu/portal/sites/diabetesconf2009/index.htm. The goal is to build a strategic alliance between the health professionals who will provide the momentum needed to implement both the Diabetes National Service Framework and procedures, and the UN resolution on diabetes (Res.61/225).
Africa has the highest percentage increase the number of people with diabetes in the next 20 years due to rapid industrialization and general improvement living standards over the past five decades, according to the latest data from the 4th edition IDF Diabetes Atlas. At least 80% of people with diabetes in Africa remain undiagnosed. The picture is bleak for those already affected by diabetes than the IDF data shows that in Africa, most those dying of diabetes are in the range of economically productive age (30 to 60 years) (1).
"No country is immune diabetes and no country has all the answers to this common enemy that we face. No country has yet succeeded in reversing the trend of rising prevalence. Beating diabetes have every ounce of commitment and ingenuity that we can summon. It is time to think so creative and to neutralize the old paradigms. Studies show increasingly strong links between diabetes and several other diseases such as heart disease, Tuberculosis and HIV / AIDS, "said Professor Jean Claude Mbanya, President of the International Diabetes Federation and co-chair scientific conference.
Mbanya added, "goal of IDF is to achieve sustainable health systems as required by Resolution Nations United 61/225, and to catalyze financing is committed to helping health systems develop sustainable, cost-effective measures for prevention and care of diabetes and other noncommunicable diseases "
Diabetes in the world
Africa is not alone in fighting the diabetes epidemic. FDI data shows that 285 million people worldwide living with diabetes (4-in-5 are developing countries). This number should exceed 435 million in 2030 (2) if the current growth rate continues unabated. Diabetes kills four million people in the coming year, more than HIV / AIDS and malaria combined.
Diabetes has become a development problem that threatens income countries health and prosperity cheap low to medium. IDF provides that diabetes will cost the global economy at least U.S. $ 376 billion in 2010, or 11.6% of Total global spending on health. In 2030, that number should surpass 490 billion U.S. dollars. (3) More than 80% of diabetes costs are the richest country the world and not in poor countries, where more than 70 percent of people with diabetes live now.
Diabetes in Mauritius
Globally, only one other country has a greater proportion of its population suffering from diabetes than Mauritius, the Pacific island of Nauru.
"If we needed a barometer to measure or predict the direction of the global epidemic of diabetes, we do not need to pass the nation Indian Ocean Island of Mauritius with a population of about 1.3 million, "said Professor Paul Zimmet, co-chairman of the Labor Force IDF Epidemiology and prevention of Australia Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute.
Zimmet, who is co-chairman of scientific committee and a keynote speaker at the conference, said the multi-ethnic population Mauritius (Asian Indian Hindus, Muslims, Asian Indian, Chinese and Creoles) has undergone rapid industrialization and economic growth over the recent decades. This brought in its wake a radical change in the pattern of the disease. He noted that these ethnic groups constitute two thirds of the population the planet. Mauritius acts as a microcosm of the global epidemic and the data by successive studies were essential for the IDF in its forecast Global diabetes.
With the Mauritian Ministry of Health and Quality of Life, Zimmet and Sir George Alberti has conducted studies in Mauritius since 1987 (1992, 1998 and 2004) have shown that the prevalence of diabetes and its complications are very high. Between 1987 and 1998, there was an increase 38% of diabetes. In the most recent survey of 2009 (directed by Sudhir Kowlessur and Professor Zimmet), there was a further dramatic increase number.
"This bodes ill for India (50.8 million) and China (43.2 million), the two nations that have the most damage diabetes worldwide immigration and the many nations around the world with these ethnic groups, "Zimmet said.
Zimmet also expressed its deep concern at the dramatic increase in diabetes in indigenous peoples, citing the example of the population Aboriginal Australia. "In our wealthy country, he said," we have almost the highest global rate of diabetes, diabetic kidney disease and amputations in the world. Diabetes is the fastest growing worldwide disease and a major public health challenges of the 21st century "
Professor Mbanya said: "Faced with these alarming figures in Mauritius, it is particularly important that we focus on the country, the World Diabetes Day. This international conference marks the beginning of political action necessary to reverse the epidemic of diabetes worldwide. "
For the next five years, the IDF is focusing on education and prevention of diabetes through its campaign of World Diabetes.
References
1,2,3 – IDF Diabetes Atlas 4th edition, International Diabetes Federation, 2009.www.diabetesatlas.org
Note to editors
About IDF
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is an umbrella organization of 212 associations members in 163 countries and territories, representing over 285 million people with diabetes, their families and providers of health care. The mission of IDF is to promote diabetes care, prevention and a cure worldwide. Its main activities include education for people with diabetes and healthcare professionals, campaigns of public awareness and promotion and exchange of information. The IDF is a non – official relations with WHO and associated to the United Nations Department of Public Information. For more information, if Please visit www.idf.org and follow us at twitter.com / IntDiabetesFed. The World Diabetes Day campaign can be followed online www.worlddiabetesday.org; / www.twitter.com wdd; Facebook-http: / / andwww.youtube.com tinyurl.com/o7o6kf / worlddiabetesday.
(1) IDF Diabetes Atlas 4th Edition, International Diabetes Federation, 2009.www.diabetesatlas.org
(2) IDF Diabetes Atlas 4th edition, International Diabetes Federation, 2009.www.diabetesatlas.org
(3) IDF Diabetes Atlas 4th edition, International Diabetes Federation, 2009.www.diabetesatlas.org
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