UN Resolution Caps Momentous Year for Diabetes World

UN Resolution Caps Momentous Year for Diabetes World

December 21, 2006

Resolution is a First for Non-Infectious Diseases 


    NEW YORK, Dec. 21 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The United
Nations General 
Assembly has today passed a landmark Resolution recognizing
the global threat 
of the diabetes epidemic.  For the first time, governments
have acknowledged 
that a non-infectious disease poses as serious a threat to
world health as 
infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and
Malaria.

    The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) leads the
Unite for Diabetes 
campaign, which aims to draw attention to the seriousness
of diabetes and 
encourage action to fight the epidemic.  Since its
inception the campaign has 
aimed for a UN Resolution. 

    Professor Martin Silink, IDF President and Chair of the
campaign, 
explained the importance of the Resolution: "Today a
key battle has been won 
in the fight against diabetes.  The significance is
monumental.  It will 
inspire, energize and empower the diabetes world.  People
said it couldn't be 
done, but only six months since launching our campaign we
have achieved our 
first goal.  The struggle will now focus on helping and
encouraging 
governments worldwide to develop national policies to
improve diabetes care 
and prevention.  I couldn't think of a better gift for the
millions of 
families affected by diabetes."

    The Unite for Diabetes campaign has brought together
the largest ever 
diabetes coalition, including patient organizations from
over 150 countries, 
the majority of the world's scientific and professional
diabetes societies, 
many charitable foundations, service organizations and
industry.

    The People's Republic of Bangladesh steered the
diplomatic process that 
resulted in the passing of the Resolution.  The cause was
taken up 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.

    The Resolution designates World Diabetes Day, November
14th, as a United 
Nations Day to be observed every year starting in 2007.  It
calls on all UN 
Member States to observe the day and on all nations to
develop national 
policies for the prevention, treatment and care of
diabetes. 

    Diabetes is a much-ignored but deadly disease,
responsible for close to 4 
million deaths every year.  It is a leading cause of heart
attack, stroke, 
blindness, kidney failure and amputation.  The global
diabetes community 
recently gathered in Cape Town, South Africa for its
triennial World Diabetes 
Congress.  Data released at the highly successful event
show the serious 
extent of the epidemic and underscore the need for urgent
action.  Over 380 
million people will live with diabetes by 2025 if
significant action is not 
taken.  The vast majority, more than 300 million, will live
in developing 
countries.

    "If nothing is done, it is the developing world
that will once again bear 
the brunt of the world's disease burden," said
Jean-Claude Mbanya, IDF 
President-Elect.  "Governments worldwide must work
with the diabetes 
community and society to tackle the problem.  People with
diabetes must be 
part of the solution.  It is our hope that, with the
recognition of the 
United Nations, the diabetes epidemic can now emerge from
the shadows."

    About The International Diabetes Federation

    The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is an
organization of 200 
member associations in more than 150 countries,
representing millions of 
people with diabetes, their families, and their healthcare
providers. Its 
mission is to promote diabetes care, prevention and a cure
worldwide. IDF 
leads the 'Unite for Diabetes' awareness campaign.

    For information about the Unite for Diabetes campaign
visit 
http://www.unitefordiabetes.org .



    For more information, please contact:
     
     Kari Rosenfeld
     Tel:   [phone]




SOURCE  International Diabetes Federation