World Diabetes Congress - Athens
PRESS RELEASE
September 13 2005
IDF presents the preliminary programme of its 19th World Diabetes Congress
Athens, Greece - The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) launches the preliminary programme of its 19th World Diabetes Congress today. The event will take place in Cape Town, South Africa, from 3-7 December 2006.
“The opportunity to share at an international level the latest scientific advances and knowledge on more practical aspects such as education, advocacy and raising awareness in the field of diabetes will make the programme of the 19th World Diabetes Congress truly diverse and unique”, said Professor Sir George Alberti, Chair of the Congress Organizing Committee.
The Congress will address a broad spectrum of diabetes-related issues grouped into seven official programme streams: Basic Science; Clinical Advances; Education and Care; Healthcare Organization; Epidemiology and Public Health; Living with Diabetes, and Diabetes in Africa.
The preliminary programme lists the key diabetes topics that will be presented in each stream. “With over 500 invited speakers and 2000 abstracts, platforms for discussion will vary from state-of-the-art lectures to interact-with-expert sessions, including symposia, workshops, named lectures, poster sessions and free communications,” announced Professor John Turtle, Chair of the Congress Programme Committee.
Held in a different location every three years, the 2006 event represents the first return of the World Diabetes Congress to Africa in over two decades. The watershed event will provide a wealth of unique opportunities for people affected by or at risk of diabetes across the entire African continent.
“By bringing together so many professionals, the Congress has the potential to influence local health authorities and to make the fight against diabetes a higher priority. The 19th World Diabetes Congress will surely constitute a turning point in the history of diabetes in Africa,” declared Professor François Bonnici, Chair of the Congress Local Organizing Committee.
Another essential goal of the Congress is to help IDF’s 191 member associations to develop strategies that will serve to prevent diabetes in the 151 countries that they represent and to offer optimum healthcare and education for people with the condition. This will be the specific role of the Global Village area where each of the associations will be offered a stand, an invitation for two representatives and the possibility of participating in workshops.
A local organizing committee has been established to work closely alongside IDF’s Africa Region. It includes representatives from the Society for Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes of South Africa (SEMDSA), Diabetes South Africa (DSA) and the Diabetes Education Society of South Africa (DESSA).
In organizing the 19th World Diabetes Congress, the International Diabetes Federation takes on for the first time full responsibility for managing the event. This will ensure good financial control, a long-lasting relationship with sponsors and continuity that will guarantee the success of World Diabetes Congresses in the years to come.
Important dates:
- Call for abstracts, registrations and hotel bookings opened on September 1 2005
- May 3 2006 - Deadline for abstract submission
- September 15 2006 - Deadline for early registration rate
For more details, please consult the World Diabetes Congress 2006 website - www.idf2006.org.
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For further information, please contact Anne Pierson, PR Manager, at anne@idf.org or +32-2-543 1623 (mobile +32-475-343788) or Chloe Harkness-Pierre, Programme Administrator, at chloe@idf.org or +32-2-543 1635.
References
Diabetes Atlas 2nd edition, International Diabetes Federation, 2003
Note to editors
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is the only global advocate for people with diabetes and their healthcare providers. Its mission is to promote diabetes care, prevention and a cure worldwide. IDF is a non-governmental organization in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Since IDF first took up the diabetes cause in 1950, it has evolved into an umbrella organization of over 190 member associations in more than 150 countries. To meet its objectives, the Federation carries out a wide range of activities, including education for people with diabetes, the promotion of the free exchange of diabetes knowledge, and public awareness campaigns.
The World Diabetes Congress is one of the largest global medical congresses with 8,000-10,000 expected participants in 2006 (17,000 in Paris 2003 when combined with the meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes. Participants traditionally include healthcare professionals such as physicians, researchers, nurses, educators as well as people with the condition, representatives of IDF associations and members of the press. The Congress will also include an exhibition area of 10,000 sqm where private companies will have the opportunity to showcase their products and innovations. As of today, 70% of this space has been booked.
