Diabetes Summit Africa 2007

The World Diabetes Foundation replicates the success from the Diabetes Summit in Hanoi, 2006. This time, Africa will be the centre of attention.

In 2006, the World Diabetes Foundation successfully organised an important Regional Summit in Hanoi, Vietnam in collaboration with Iinternational Diabetes Federation, World Health Organization and the Southern Pacific Council (SPC). The Vietnam summit was co-hosted by the Ministry of Health, Vietnam with the participation of 100 participants, key diabetes stakeholders and 25 local, regional and international media participants.

This year the ambition is to organise a similar regional initiative in Africa to replicate the success and to make significant changes in efforts on providing advocacy, access and prevention at all levels in order to improve care for people with diabetes.

From the 29th-30th of June 2007, The World Diabetes Foundation will be organizing its second regional Summit, which will take place in Kenya, Nairobi in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Kenya, the World Health Organizations Regional Office for Africa and the International Diabetes Federation, Africa.

“This important Summit will be the first major diabetes event in Africa following the adoption of the United Nations Resolution on Diabetes and will provide an interesting platform and opportunity for key stakeholders in Africa to show their commitment to the cause of Non Communicable Diseases and diabetes in particular", says Dr Anil Kapur, managing director of the World Diabetes Foundation.

Dr Anil Kapur explains:"We need to build on these regional initiatives to become more proactive in our approach to create networks amongst our global project partners and build alliances to multiply successful initiatives in a cost effective way.”

The Diabetes Summit Africa will take place in Nairobi, at the Safari Park Hotel and is only open for participants by personal invitation by the organising committee and the World Diabetes Foundation.

The overall objective of the Summit is to bring together international experts from the World Health Organization (WHO), International Diabetes Federation (IDF), national health authorities, development aid and funding agencies, WDF project partners, local diabetes associations, health care providers, academics, NGOs, local, regional and global media in order to highlight the rising prevalence of diabetes and its complications in the developing world and Africa in particular.

Furthermore, the ambition is to discuss issues related to prevention and care and create a high level panel debate on how to develop strategies to reduce the socio-economic burden of diabetes as well as showcase the ongoing efforts by demonstrating examples of WDF projects.

The summit will also provide an opportunity for relevant organisations to create a network of committed global and regional key opinion leaders, who can drive the agenda on diabetes prevention and care forward in Africa.

The Summit will be attended by people involved with policy planning, implementation, development assistance, bilateral and multilateral donors, and other key diabetes stakeholders in Africa.

Summit programme and time table

For further information and press relations, please contact: Mr Jamal Butt, WDF communication manager

E-mail: jmbu@worlddiabetesfoundation.org