Screening to be done on World Diabetes Day

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Friday 11th November 2011

ON Monday, hundreds of people will mark World Diabetes Day by going to diabetes screening sites in Port Moresby. 
Booths will be located at three City Pharmacy Ltd sites in Boroko, Waigani and Koki, the J Mart Shopping Centre, the Vision City Mall and the 6-Mile Market. 
Qualified medical staff will be on hand to help.
Celebrated every year on Nov 14, World Diabetes Day is a campaign led by the International Diabetes Federation and its member associations.
It was created in 1991 by IDF and WHO in response to growing concerns about the escalating threat of diabetes worldwide.
World Diabetes Day became an official United Nations Day in 2007.
Today over 250 million people live with diabetes globally and if nothing is done, this figure will reach 380 million within 20 years.  
Globally, diabetes kills as many people as HIV/AIDS.  
A national study done by HOPE worldwide (PNG) and funded by WHO, showed that 14% of adults in Papua New Guinea had a high blood glucose level. 
Typically, half the people in such a group will have diabetes.  That is 7% of all adults – or potentially 276,000 Papua New Guineans  – yet only about 3000 people are getting regular treatment for their diabetic conditions. 
Children can develop diabetes and in PNG are at a higher risk of not being properly diagnosed or treated.
HOPE worldwide (PNG) is working closely with the PNG health authorities, especially the NCD health authorities to promote awareness to combat this deadly killer.   Highlights for 2011 include : 
l Over 12,000 people screened nationally;
l The launch of the Eastern Highlands diabetes branch association;
l The launch in late November of new screening facilities at the Badili clinic in Port Moresby; and
l A positive response from the corporate sector to making testing available to employees of Kenmore Ltd, ANZ, BSP, Credit Corporation, Digicel Ltd and the United Nations.
 At a global level, the World Diabetes Day Resolution urges governments to implement national policies for the prevention, care and treatment of diabetes in line with the sustainable development of their healthcare systems. 
The UN resolution, adopted in 2007, was the first time that a non-communicable disease was recognised as posing as serious a global health threat as infectious epidemics like malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.
To mark the importance of World Diabetes Day, organisations and individuals are encouraged to use the blue circle – the global symbol for diabetes.
Details of the campaign and how people can show their support can be found at www.worlddiabetesday.org.