Diabetes Declaration and Strategy for Africa: A call to action
PRESS RELEASE
Cape Town, South Africa
December 4, 2006
Cape Town (South Africa), 4 December – The Diabetes Declaration and Strategy for Africa was launched today during the 19th World Diabetes Congress in Cape Town by the International Diabetes Federation Africa Region. The purpose of the Diabetes Declaration for Africa is to raise community and political awareness about diabetes and to improve diabetes care by working through a coalition of individuals, community, corporations and governments.
The situation of diabetes in Africa
In the beginning of the 20th century, diabetes was virtually unknown in Africa. In 2006, only one century later, 10 million people are suffering from diabetes in the African Region and this figure is expected to rise to almost 20 million by 2025. Many people, including children, die from lack of insulin, and it is likely that many die of diabetes before even being diagnosed, let alone treated. Still more suffer debilitating consequences of diabetes such as amputation and blindness. Although the rest of the world is also experiencing a global epidemic of diabetes, obesity and heart disease, the biggest growth rate and impact of these diseases will be in the developing countries.
Diabetes is not yet curable but most type 2 and its complications are largely preventable. There are proven low cost strategies that alter diet, increase physical activity and modify lifestyle that can reduce the impact of diabetes while simultaneously addressing risks of other disease areas. The cost of intervention is cheaper than doing nothing. An investment in diabetes also brings health gains in other disease areas.
Purpose and focus
The Diabetes Declaration and Diabetes Strategy for Africa cover those sub-Saharan African countries, which fall into what is generally known as East Africa, West Africa and Southern Africa. They focus on the three major forms of diabetes – type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. The vision, recommendations and strategies proposed in the Declaration and Strategy span the continuum of care from pre-diabetes through diagnosis, routine monitoring and care, to the onset of complications and palliation.
The Declaration and Strategy target politicians, health care funders, planners, policy makers and providers, all public sectors, non-government organizations, all relevant industry sectors and private businesses, and the general community to act to reduce the public and personal cost of diabetes.
The Diabetes Declaration for Africa
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) African Region, the World Health Organization (WHO)-AFRO and the African Union have decided to unite their efforts. Through the Diabetes Declaration for Africa, they call on governments of African countries, and all partners and stakeholders in diabetes to prevent diabetes and related non-communicable diseases and to improve quality of life and reduce morbidity and premature mortality from diabetes.
Their claims include the provision of adequate, appropriate and affordable medications and supplies for people with diabetes; earlier detection and optimal quality care of diabetes; and the dissemination of information and education in order to improve self care. Their claims also include actions to prevent diabetes, for example by creating healthier environments and ensuring equitable access to care for people at risk of diabetes. They also insist on truly integrated approach which utilizes the whole health workforce to address infectious and non-communicable diseases simultaneously.
The Diabetes Strategy for Africa
The Diabetes Strategy for Africa sets out, in broad terms, what needs to be done. It describes a vision and plan for operation for the call to action set out in the Declaration. The Strategy provides a framework of agreed principles, goals and strategies. It illustrates the benefits of intervening to reduce the public and personal burden of diabetes versus the consequences of not intervening. It also presents a generic prototype for action based on evidence and international consensus which can be adapted to the different health system contexts and structures.
The Diabetes Strategy for Africa is about making diabetes everybody’s business and combines the notion of individual, community, social, corporate and government responsibility.
ENDS
- Download the Diabetes Declaration and Strategy for Africa (pdf, 5MB)
- IDF Africa Region
