At global conference, WDF brings home the message that pregnancy is a key moment for improving the health of women and their children.
17 May 2016 Gwendolyn Carleton
The World Diabetes Foundation brought a simple message to the 4th Global Women Deliver Conference this week in Copenhagen, Denmark: To stop diabetes, the world must invest in maternal health.
During the conference, which took place from 17-19 May, the Foundation sponsored an advocacy meeting, a breakfast meeting, and a Speakers’ Corner session. Each worked to raise awareness about the key role that women play in the ongoing diabetes epidemic, and also how WDF is instrumental in minimising this risk.
“We are here to demonstrate our willingness and capacity to participate in the fight against diabetes, and the inequality when it comes to health outcomes in women,” said WDF Managing Director Dr Anders Dejgaard.
The Foundation’s main event was a breakfast meeting on 17 May exploring the importance of prevention and care of diabetes in women, especially women living in developing countries. More than 150 people attended the event, which was graced by HRH Princess Benedikte of Denmark, patron to the World Diabetes Foundation.
“Women in developing countries are vulnerable,” said Dr. Chandrika Wijeyaratne, Professor in Reproductive Medicine at the University of Colombo and a WDF project partner. “We need to do a lot of work in both the health and non-health sectors.”
Their central role in the family – as cooks, care-givers and mothers – make women key to the health of entire societies, she said: “Empowering women is an investment in the health of nations.”
Dr. Anil Kapur, Chairman of the WDF Board, explored how hyperglycaemia in pregnancy affects women and their children.
“We need to address maternal health if we really want to address diabetes,” he said. “Things aren’t moving fast enough in this area.”
He explained that both women who are undernourished and those who are overweight are likely to have children who develop diabetes and other health issues in the future.
New guidelines from the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) encourage testing of all women for hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar) during pregnancy, and offer a template for diagnosis, management and care, he said.
“Pregnancy is a moment when a woman is likely to visit a healthcare professional. It’s a moment where we can transform the life of her and her whole family,” he said.
In addition to the breakfast meeting, WDF co-sponsored a collaborative meeting for organisations working with hyperglycaemia in pregnancy to increase awareness of the new FIGO guidelines.
The Foundation also held a ‘Speakers’ Corner’ presentation, explaining its partnership approach to combatting diabetes in developing countries – and encouraging listeners with good project ideas to apply for funding.
Women Deliver is a leading global advocate for girls’ and womens’ health, rights, and wellbeing. More than 5,000 people from 2,000 organisations attended the 2016 conference, making it the largest to date. The focus of the conference was on how to implement the Sustainable Development Goals as they relate to girls and women, with a specific focus on health.