Rising diabetes numbers drive need for solutions
Rising diabetes numbers drive immediate need for solutions
The community health programme survey results that found 60% of the respondents were susceptible to diabetes due to obesity and family history confirm the severity of the diabetes problem, according to the Manager of the International Diabetes Federation Western Pacific Region Congress Russ Finnerty.
‘This survey showed that more than half the population of Counties Manukau, here in New Zealand, is at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes according to the Let's Beat Diabetes programme,’ says Mr Finnerty. ‘New Zealand is not on its own with this problem. We know these figures are consistent with those in other countries throughout the region.
‘That’s why the Congress here in Wellington at the end of this month, with the theme Diabetes Asia Pacific: Working for Solutions is so incredibly important to every person, government and healthcare provider in this region.’
The 2008 International Diabetes Federation Western Pacific Region Congress is in Wellington from 30 March to 2 April and this forum can assist the governments in the region to identify solution. The programme has now been finalised and is available at www.idfwpr2008.org.
‘This Congress can identify the solutions that are already in development. We have the top experts in their fields coming here and sharing new developments in telemedicine, xenotransplantation, nutritional and environmental factors, and diabetes care and management.
From identifying solutions, we can move forward to implementing them,’ continues Mr Finnerty. ‘It’s vital that the movers and shakers in government and the health service work together on these solutions.
It is only by collaborating and by including community and consumer groups that we can bring real change and make these solutions work.’
With 1,700 delegates in Wellington for this one of this country’s biggest health conference, Mr Finnerty expects wide interest in the Congress from policy makers and healthcare providers throughout the region.
ENDS
For more information on the
Congress programme, please go to www.idfwpr2008.org.
To arrange interviews with the Congress speakers or for
media enquiries and further information on the Congress,
please contact:
Bronwyn Bannister
Congress
Communications Manager
(+64 4) 499 7143
027 410
4873
bronwyn.bannister@diabetes.org.nz
International Diabetes Federation Western Pacific Region (IDF-WPR) Congress Background Information
Have there been IDF-WPR
Congresses here before?
Not in New Zealand, but recent
Congresses in the Western Pacific Region have
been:
• Sydney 1999 (1200 attendees)
• Beijing
2002 (2000+)
• Bangkok 2005 (1900+)
What is the
preliminary structure?
The proposed structure is a mix of
plenary sessions, and mini symposia each comprising a lead
speaker and adjudicated papers.
Additionally poster
sessions, "Meet the Professor" discussions, company symposia
and slots for "Late Breaking Trials" will round out the
programme.
What topics will be featured?
This is a
complex area and a wide range of subjects will be covered
under the following streams:
• Prevention of Obesity
and Diabetes
• Health care delivery
• Living with
diabetes
• Basic science
• Population aspects of
diabetes
• Diabetes in the Western Pacific IDF
Region
• Clinical Care
Is the current IDF focus on
diabetes and youth recognised in this Congress?
There is
a special youth programme within the Congress for selected
delegates aged 18-25 years – 24 from the IDF member
countries of the Western Pacific Region and 24 from New
Zealand. Delegates will attend some of the key sessions of
the Congress and also have their own sessions.
For more information on the programme and confirmed speakers, please see http://www.idfwpr2008.org/programme.php
Who is
responsible for getting the Congress here?
In May/June
2004 Diabetes New Zealand, with the support of the New
Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes, and the
Wellington City Council (who funded the documentation),
submitted a written proposal to the IDF-WPR secretariat in
Singapore. In December that year Diabetes New Zealand made a
formal presentation to the IDF-WPR Council at a meeting in
Sydney.
What is the International Diabetes
Federation?
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF)
is a worldwide alliance of over 200 diabetes associations in
more than 160 countries. It is the only global advocate for
people with diabetes and their healthcare providers. The IDF
works in conjunction with the World Health Organisation
(WHO) to enhance the lives of people with diabetes
everywhere. It is the mission of IDF to promote diabetes
care, prevention and a cure worldwide.
What countries are
in the Western Pacific Region?
The Western Pacific Region
comprises Australia, Cambodia, China, Fiji, Hong Kong,
Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, New
Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore,
Taiwan, Thailand, Tonga and Vietnam.
Who is organising
the Congress?
Diabetes Congress Limited has been
incorporated specifically to own and manage this Congress.
This company is owned equally by Diabetes New Zealand and
the New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes.
What
is Diabetes New Zealand?
Diabetes New Zealand Inc is a
national membership organisation. Its aim is to support
their members, the 39 diabetes societies throughout New
Zealand and health professionals. Diabetes New Zealand acts
for people affected by diabetes by:
• encouraging local
support
• acting as an advocate
• raising
awareness of diabetes and diabetes prevention
•
educating and informing people about diabetes, its
treatment,
management and control
• supporting
research into the treatment, prevention and cure
of
diabetes.
The National Office is in Wellington.
What is the New Zealand Society for the Study
of Diabetes (NZSSD)?
NZSSD Inc is the national advisory
body on scientific and clinical diabetes care and standards.
NZSSD's objectives are to promote the study of diabetes and
the best standards of care of diabetes in New Zealand. It
also provides the national reference source on the subject.
Its members include diabetes specialist physicians, diabetes
specialist nurses, podiatrists, dietitians,
ophthalmologists, general physicians and clinical, community
and industrial health
workers.
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