gwen's blog

Lebanon is currently facing compounding crises: financial and economic. According to the World Bank, ‘the unfolding economic and financial crisis that started in October 2019 has been further exacerbated by the dual economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, and the massive Port of Beirut explosion in August 2020.’ The Syrian crisis has contributed an influx of refugees to an already growing Lebanese population. Today, the country hosts the highest number of refugees per capita worldwide, according to UNHCR, the UN refugee agency.  

At the IPS Salud Social, a bustling primary care centre in central Barranquilla, dozens of women listen intently as a doctor explains the risks of HIP and the importance of controlling the blood sugar during and after pregnancy.

Each has her own reason for being here. Audris Celin, 28, is among the pregnant women present – she was diagnosed with gestational diabetes seven weeks ago, and after her diagnosis she was encouraged to join the programme activities and come for regular checkups. 

Signed in Paris, the agreement will open doors to new opportunities for increasing access to diabetes and non-communicable disease prevention and care in low- and middle-income countries. 
 
On January 25, WDF and France’s development agency Agence Française de Développement (AFD) met in AFD’s headquarters near Paris’ Gare de Lyon. They were there to join forces around a common goal: strengthening health care systems to better address non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including diabetes in low and middle-income countries (LMICs).

BAGSVÆRD, DENMARK – The World Diabetes Foundation today announces the constitution of a new Board of Directors. The Board consists of Dr Anil Kapur (Chair), Ms Tina Abild Olesen (Vice-chair), Prof Abdallah Daar, Ms Kirstine Brown-Frandsen, Ms Tine Gammeltoft and Dr Kaushik Ramaiya. 

They will be joined by Mr Christian Holm Jönsson and Mr Peter Haahr, who will support the Board with expertise in two key areas, Digital Health and Social Financing/Investment, over a three-year period.

In the second half of 2022, WDF supported a variety of projects in Africa, India and the Philippines. While each has its own unique approach, all aim to create lasting, sustainable improvements in diabetes prevention and care in the populations they target. The projects include two with a focus on gestational diabetes, and one focused on displaced populations.

During our preparations for WDF´s anniversary, several colleagues asked me about my proudest WDF moment of the past 20 years. Many come to mind, but all have one thing in common. They involve seeing the impact of WDF partnerships on peoples’ lives. 

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death and disease in Jordan, accounting for 78% of all deaths, according to the Jordan National Stepwise Survey (STEPs) for NCD Risk Factors 2019.

Jordan’s government and civil society are working together to decrease this huge NCD burden, with WDF’s support. Since 2007, WDF has supported 11 projects in Jordan with nearly USD 8.5 million in funding.

From Dec 3-10, 1,200 young people from more than 100 countries gathered in Karnataka, India for the 2022 UNLEASH Global Innovation Lab.    

The week-long event at the Mysuru Campus from Infosys sought to grow a network of talented people, experts, and resources to drive innovation around seven tracks linked to the Sustainable Development Goals. 

The Global Diabetes Walk campaign rerouted itself during the COVID-19 pandemic, encouraging people to walk however they could – with a few friends, alone, or even inside. 2022 marked a return to the campaign’s traditional focus on larger outdoor events. 

Today is World Diabetes Day, a moment to take stock of the impact of diabetes on individuals and communities worldwide - and imagine a better future. 

Millions of people with diabetes around the world lack access to the knowledge, care, medicine and support they need to manage their condition and avoid complications. Healthcare systems worldwide, already strained by COVID-19 and other acute, overlapping health challenges, are under pressure to change this.