Over 120 world leaders from the United Nation, governments, the private sector and non-governmental organisations have released a blueprint for action around the current global diabetes epidemic.
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF), an umbrella organisation of over 200 national diabetes associations in over 160 countries, estimates that unless rapid action is taken, one person in ten will have diabetes by 2030.
Now it says that The Dubai Blueprint, a product of IDF’s recent World Diabetes Congress in Dubai, is the first concrete step taken collectively by the private sector to tackle diabetes since the UN Summit on Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) last September.
It contains a Declaration based around the unique contributions the private sector can make in a number of areas including the productions and promotion of healthy foods, reducing salt in the food industry and responsible marketing.
It backs a recent recommendation by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that there should be a marked reduction in the marketing unhealthy foods and non-alcoholic beverages to children.
The blueprint also backs campaigns such as promoting workplace wellness, including establishing tobacco free workplaces, healthy working environments, and health insurance plans.
‘Only by combining public, private and people can we deliver the necessary actions to combat the diabetes epidemic,’ said Jean Claude Mbanya, president of the IDF.
‘The blueprint will be a practical tool for future action on diabetes in all sectors and will inspire the current dialogue on multi-sectoral partnerships,’ he added.
The IDF is hoping that the blueprint will also directly influence ongoing WHO consultations on NCDs and lead to the creation of a Global NCD Partnership housed with a UN agency.
The IDF represents the interests of the growing number of people with diabetes and those at risk. The Federation has been leading the global diabetes community since 1950.
