Q2-07
	Celebrating five years on making a difference Five years ago, the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF) set out to change the course of diabetes in the developing world, where relatively little attention had previously been paid to the disorder. By supporting clinics, training doctors and nurses, raising awareness and advocating national programmes, the Foundation aims to create innovative solutions that make a difference.   The World Diabetes Foundation (WDF) is the only international Foundation devoted solely to funding projects within diabetes care. We work with existing health care infrastructures and systems, such as ministries of health, local diabetes associations, other local organisations, institutions and individuals to find long-lasting solutions, which over time become fully integrated into national policies and action plans. The Foundation has become a catalyst of change and is already the largest funding agency for diabetes care initiatives in the developing world.   We fund good ideas that are sustainable and we make sure they are shared by key influencers and relevant diabetes stakeholders, which was exactly the case at the Diabetes Summit Africa held in late June in Nairobi, Kenya. The aim of the summit organised by WDF in collaboration with the World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Africa, International Diabetes Federation, Africa Region and the Ministry of Health, Kenya was to encourage governments, policy makers and funding bodies to prioritise and support much needed sustainable, local programmes for diabetes prevention and care as entry points in building more comprehensive non-communicable disease programmes.   In this newsletter we would like to share stories that demonstrate the WDF catalyst effect and preventive approach. By funding the development of the “Clinical Practice Guidelines” and “Diabetes Education Training Manual”, WDF has set into motion several national initiatives that will enable doctors and health care workers to offer up to date diabetes care to people with diabetes in the African countries. A project involving children in Sudan provides access to care and finds ways to help many more families and children suffering from diabetes. A project involving school children in India puts emphasis on primary prevention, resulting in peer to peer education reaching out to an estimated 50.000 school children.    To mark our five year anniversary, we have published a brochure “Five years of making a difference”, which highlights some of the achievements of our projects. We invite you to download this brochure and other materials. We hope that over time our advocacy and awareness efforts will show that it is possible to tackle the challenge posed by diabetes in the developing world in a cost effective manner. Our five-year anniversary marks the beginning of a journey of hope for people with diabetes in the developing world. On behalf of the WDF Board of directors and Secretariat, we thank our sponsors, project partners and well-wishers for their support. Dr Anil Kapur,   Managing Director World Diabetes Foundation
	Having an impact on diabetes care The World Diabetes Foundation (WDF) has published the brochure; “Five years on making a difference” to share some of the results and impact of the projects funded by WDF. Read more
	Bringing together diabetes expertise in Africa More than 230 delegates from 25 countries in Sub Saharan Africa, leading global health experts, ministers of health from Niger, Guinea Conakry, Republic of Kenya, donors and national health authorities convened at the Diabetes Summit Africa. They came together to discuss the growing prevalence of diabetes in the developing world, especially Africa, and discuss strategies for managing what is predicted to be the major health crisis of the 21st century.   Read more
	Seeing is believing – surviving diabetes in Kenya For visitors, the vast landscapes, mountains and wilderness of Kenya are beautiful spectacles. For people with diabetes living here, the vastness combined with poverty means lack of access to basic health care. For people living with diabetes in Africa and other developing regions of the world, the consequence of poor access to health care is a high risk of suffering and dying early from complications related to diabetes. For a child with type 1 diabetes, this can mean death within a few weeks.   Read more
	Primary prevention in Indian schools “MARG”( Hindi for Path) programme, aiming to create awareness about diabetes, obesity, lipid disorders and heart disease in children and adolescents is enjoying overwhelming success and support in North India. Read more
	Saving children in Sudan In Sudan, a general lack of consensus on management of diabetes among health care professionals as well as correct knowledge about diabetes amongst parents and school teachers results in poor diabetes control in children suffering from diabetes. Read more
	Improving diabetes care and management in Africa Two valuable documents; “Diabetes Clinical Practice Guidelines” and “Diabetes Education Training Manual”, will enable doctors and health care workers to offer up to date diabetes care to people with diabetes in the African countries. Read more