Q4-08
	Breaking barriers and bringing hope  2008 was a remarkable year in many ways from the point of view of the WDF, much was achieved including the further commitment of 575 million DKK from Novo Nordisk A/S. Unfortunately, the global economic meltdown towards the end of the year may make the already scarce health care funding even more precarious and the need even more acute.   The mission statement of the World Diabetes Foundation reads; “The aim is to alleviate human suffering related to diabetes and its complications among those least able to withstand the burden of disease.” Every day since the Foundation was established in 2002, we have fought to achieve this goal. With a total of 182 projects funded in 83 developing countries, we estimate that in the next three to four years benefits of better awareness and care as result of these projects will touch the lives of approximately 66 million people in some of the poorest countries in the world. These are also the very same countries where resources for diabetes prevention and treatment are scarce and where the projected future burden of diabetes is high. The projects and awareness initiatives covered in this newsletter indicate the scope and focus areas where the Foundation truly makes a difference: Eye care camps in rural India; establishing much needed diabetes eye care in Uzbekistan; a royal charity dinner to support rural diabetes care in Thailand; and supporting a Masai boy with diabetes in Tanzania. Supporting projects in the field constitutes the pride of our work and although our work makes a difference for millions of people, no single organisation however big or small, can lift the burden that non-communicable diseases and diabetes pose to global health. This would have to be done collaboratively and within the framework of internationally agreed and endorsed policies.              I therefore welcome the recently adopted World Health Organization Action Plan on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable diseases. This along with the UN Resolution on Diabetes provides the basis and validity for our work and advocacy efforts. The Chennai Call for Action formulated at the recent Diabetes Summit for South-East Asia in November 2008, provides yet another platform for the need for urgent action to enhance the efforts for prevention and control of diabetes and related chronic diseases worldwide but even more vigorously in resource constrained low and middle income economies. I take this opportunity to wish all our readers a belated Happy New Year and hope that we will continue to receive your goodwill and support to our work! Dr. Anil Kapur Managing Director, World Diabetes Foundation
	Oswati - one of Tanzania's children with diabetes Since 2003, diabetes clinics have been established throughout Tanzania. Five clinics particularly provide care for children with type 1 diabetes and save children that would otherwise not have survived. Oswati Mollel is one of them.  Read more
	Creating access to eye care in Uzbekistan In 2004, the World Diabetes Foundation supported the establishment of regional diabetes information centres throughout Uzbekistan. The next step is the establishment of eye care facilities and training of local ophthalmologists.  Read more
	From blindness to vision Diabetic retinopathy is one of the major causes of preventable blindness in developing countries. With the support from the World Diabetes Foundation a group of innovative ophthalmologists now offer prevention and care for people in rural and poor areas in Central India. Read more
	WHO launches Action Plan for NCDs WHO calls for support to address the global burden of non-communicable diseases. The call is formulated in a Global Action Plan named: "Prevent and Control". The World Diabetes Foundation welcomes and fully subscribes to the Global Action Plan and the pressing need to invest in non-communicable diseases.  Read more
	Diabetes Summit for South-East Asia In November, the Diabetes Summit for South-East Asia was held in Chennai, India. The discussion of how to tackle the escalating rates of diabetes was high on the agenda. Read more
	A cause for celebration Organising a charity dinner with royal and prominent guests on World Diabetes Day became a successful start for a future mobile eye care unit in rural Thailand. Read more