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Resolution is turning point in fight against diabetes

21 Dec 2006 12:40

Martin Silink, President International Diabetes Federation
Martin Silink, President of the International Diabetes Federation

Dear Friends

History will undoubtedly record December 20th 2006 as the turning point in the fight against diabetes. On this day the United Nations General Assembly passed a landmark Resolution recognizing diabetes as a chronic, debilitating and costly disease associated with major complications that pose severe risks for families, countries and the entire world.

For the first time, governments have acknowledged that a non-infectious disease is as serious a global threat as the infectious epidemics. The Resolution has designated the current IDF World Diabetes Day, November 14th as a United Nations Day to be observed every year starting in 2007. It calls on all nations to develop national policies for the prevention, treatment and care of diabetes in line with sustainable development of their healthcare systems.

The campaign for a UN Resolution on diabetes, led by the International Diabetes Federation,  has brought together the largest ever diabetes coalition, including IDF member associations, the majority of the world’s scientific and professional diabetes societies, many charitable foundations and service organizations, as well as industry.  It has shown how strong we are when we ’Unite for Diabetes’.

The campaign has been a huge global effort involving both a top-down political approach and a grass-roots awareness movement on behalf of the 246 million people living with diabetes and many millions more at risk. While it is an almost impossible task to thank every individual involved, in due course IDF will pay proper tribute to the many people who championed the cause in their own countries, within their organizations and at the UN.

However, at this stage, we do wish to pay tribute to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh for sponsoring the Resolution at the UN until it was accepted by the G77 (a coalition of 133 developing and transitional countries at the UN led by the Republic of South Africa). The ownership of the Resolution by this majority voting bloc convinced the countries of the developed world to throw their support behind the Resolution with the final vote being by consensus.

The real beneficiaries of the Resolution will be people living with diabetes, their families and many more at risk.  Passing the UN Resolution, while monumental for the diabetes world, is just the first step. A phase will now begin to celebrate the passage of the Resolution and mark the first UN-observed World Diabetes Day on November 14 2007. It is IDF’s goal to reach 1 billion people with awareness messaging about diabetes care and prevention. 

With Regards

Professor Martin Silink
President, International Diabetes Federation

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