United Nations Resolution Workshops
Led and developed by the International Diabetes Federation, supported by Merck & Co.
In 2006, the United Nations recognised the gravity of the diabetes epidemic and the need to take global action. The United Nations passed Resolution 61/225 which called on all UN Member States to develop national policies for the prevention, treatment and care of diabetes. This represented a significant milestone, setting in place a framework and internationally-recognized reference point for progress to be made on a global, regional and local level.
IDF understands that the Resolution alone was only a starting point. To practically achieve the objectives of the UN Resolution, regional differences, considerations and expertise must be taken into account to create an effective implementation strategy. Each IDF region has a distinct set of challenges and circumstances which may also differ from country to country, creating different diabetes landscapes.
Therefore, IDF conducted a series of workshops in each of the seven IDF regions (Africa, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, North America and Caribbean, South and Central America, South-East Asia and Western Pacific) throughout 2008 and 2009 supported by Merck & Co., Inc.
The aim of each meeting has been to develop actions plans that set out strategies and tactics to improve the prevention, treatment and care of diabetes across each region. Bringing together the spectrum of diabetes stakeholders under the banner of the IDF regions has ensured patient, policy, social, and clinical interests have been represented in each action plan.
IDF Regional Action Plans
Each action plan reflects the demographics, geography, culture and healthcare systems within that region and includes specific responses to local issues.
In addition to the specific regional responses and issues, the workshops revealed that, due to the commonality of the diabetes epidemic, four key themes were shared by all regions: engaging with government to shape diabetes policy, improving access to appropriate treatment and care, facilitating collaboration between stakeholders and enhancing all forms of diabetes education.
The action plans deliver a practical solution to managing the diabetes epidemic on a global level.
Commenting on the regional action plans, Jean Claude Mbanya, President of International Diabetes Federation said, “It is now vital that countries within those regions truly embrace and implement these plans and that intervention strategies founded on local expertise are underwritten by healthcare policy makers. The United Nations Resolution marked the start of a new era of diabetes management. With the collaboration of all stakeholders in the diabetes community, the IDF Regional Action Plans are the blueprint to achieve the change at a grass roots level.”
Read the full commentary from Jean Claude Mbanya
Regional Action Plans
- Africa (AFR) (pdf)
- Europe (EUR) - the action plan will be launched in the first quarter of 2010
- Middle East and North Africa (MENA) (pdf)
- North America and Caribbean (NAC) (pdf)
- South and Central America (SACA) (pdf)
- South-East Asia (SEA) - the action plan will be launched in the first quarter of 2010
- Western Pacific (WP) (pdf)
Press releases
- Africa (AFR)
- Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
- Caribbean
- North America
- South and Central America (SACA)
- South-East Asia (SEA)
Poster summaries
- Africa (AFR) (pdf)
- Middle East and North Africa (MENA) (pdf)
- North America and Caribbean (NAC) (pdf)
- South and Central America (SACA) (pdf)
- South-East Asia (SEA) (pdf)
- Western Pacific (WP) (pdf)
