World Diabetes Day (WDD) is celebrated every year on November 14. The campaign is led by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and its member associations including Malaysia. It focuses on diabetic advocacy and awareness.
Historically, WDD was created in 1991 by IDF and World Health Organisation (WHO) in response to the growing concern about the rising health threat that diabetes pose to the world.
WDD becomes an official United Nations Day in 2007 with its resolution 61/225.
The day celebrated on November 14, to mark the birthday of Frederick Banting who , along with Charles Best, first conceived the idea which led to the discovery of insulin in 1922.
WDD themes keep on changing. In 2005-Diabetes and Foot Care, 2006-Diabetes in the Disadvantaged and Vulnerable, 2007-2008- Diabetes in Children and Adolescents and 2009-2013- Diabetes Education and Prevention.
With the themes, all associations and others must focus on diabetic education and prevention. Let the public understand what diabetic is all about.
Pose these questions and answered to them. What is Diabetes? What are the signs and symptoms? What are the risk factors? How to overcome or prevent diabetes?
I know many government agencies and other NGOs have done their parts in making these questions answered. But how the public at large responded? How do we effectively communicate with them? How to make them aware and more importantly, take necessary actions to prevent or control diabetes?
Some might say, it is difficult to change their sedentary lifestyle, eating habit, compliance to medication, diet or exercise. I think we all must continually educate the public and make awareness campaign using whatever resources that we have. Big businesses or company must come in and provide necessary contribution (sponsorship, monetary donation for example) or they themselves create diabetic education program and awareness as part of their corporate social responsibility.
In Malaysia alone, it is estimated in 2011 around 2.6 millions of her citizens suffer diabetes. The rate of increase over the years is alarming. Diabetes complications keep on increasing by year with many people get foot ulcer and amputated feet, partial blindness, stroke, damaged kidney, damaged nerves etc.
At the world level, IDF says half of the people died from diabetes are under the age of 60; many did not know they have diabetes; 4.8 millions died and 471 billion USD spent in diabetes in 2012. That is a big sum of money.
Diabetes had caused not only health threat to the diabetics but also to the government of the day. More money is being spent in educating the public, medications, managing operation theatres in hospitals, managing diabetic patients in hospital wards etc....This has to be reduced. All efforts must be synchronized to diabetes education and prevention of it.
This year, Malaysia will celebrate World Diabetes Day on the 17th of November in Kuching, Sarawak. It is organised by the Diabetes Malaysia Sarawak Branch and the Sarawak State Government. There are exhibitions, exercise, talks etc. All Diabetes Malaysia members from other branches are invited.
As for Terengganu, Diabetes Malaysia Terengganu branch and Department of Health (Terengganu) is co-hosting World Diabetes Day Celebration on November 24, 2013 in Kuala Terengganu. It comes with the workshop for the diabetics, public forum, confession of a diabetic patient ; healthy food cooking demonstration, screening of blood glucose, exhibitions and selling of diabetic products like drinks, stevia, diabetic shoes, milk etc.
I just hope with a small contribution like this, it can move the society and public towards more understanding diabetes better, and take active steps to prevent diabetes or even reverse diabetes. We all are in-charge of our health. May Allah Bless You All.
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