Kerala saw the biggest, longest massive anti diabetes campaign with the broadest ever media coverage in November 2012 when International Diabetes Federation (IDF), Belgium, officially partnered with Jothydev’s Diabetes Research Centre (JDC) as part of ‘World Diabetes Month’ activities across Kerala. The sole intention of the campaign was to spread the strong message of the requirement of daily exercise and dietary modifications for the prevention and successful treatment of diabetes.
Kesavadev Trust and Jothydev's Diabetes Research Centre had been organizing World Diabetes Day activities in Kerala for more than 10 years. Diabscreen Kerala, a project of P. Kesavadev Trust have completed >455 free diabetes screening, awareness and treatment camps at different geographical locations across the length and breadth of Kerala. Recognition has come to JDC from IDF being the only diabetes center to have conducted World Diabetes Day in Kerala for more than 12 years without fail.
WDD
Jothydev’s Diabetes and Research Centre (JDC) located at Trivandrum & Kochi is an International Centre for comprehensive Diabetes management, globally known for pioneering research works on cost effective Diabetes treatment with Telemedicine and Technology planned to take up this event focusing in spreading Diabetes awareness among the public conveying the importance of exercise in daily life to control diabetes in an interactive way.
World Diabetes Day 2012 marks with the release of the International Diabetes Federation's 5th edition of the Diabetes Atlas. New figures indicate that the number of people living with diabetes is expected to rise from 366 million in 2011 to 552 million by 2030, if no immediate measures are adapted. This equates to approximately two new cases every ten seconds or almost ten million per year. IDF also estimates that as many as 183 million people are unaware that they have diabetes.
Quoting Dr. Jothydev Kesavadev, “22% of people have diabetes and 60% of diabetes remains undiagnosed. In general every 8 sec 1 person dies of diabetes and every 10 sec 2 persons develop diabetes. The only way by which diabetes can be prevented and effectively treated is with continuing education and awareness campaigns. Unique recognition bestowed upon us from the global IDF community is viewed upon with utmost respect and due importance.”
WDD VIDEOS LINK
As the world celebrates Diabetes Day on Nov 14th, awareness activity in India is given a significant position in the priority chart of the International Diabetes Federation. This is the largest awareness campaign ever held in Kerala engaging general public in an effort to curb the rising incidence of diabetes in India and improve the living conditions of people with diabetes.
“IDF is committed to translating UN Commitments into action by fostering a new level of partnership involving public, private and people. It is hoped that campaigns such as World Diabetes Day will continue to raise the voice of people with diabetes and move from advocacy to action on a global scale. In every country and in every community worldwide, we are losing the battle against this cruel and deadly disease. World Diabetes Day 2012, to bring these alarming diabetes facts into the global spotlight, demanding public and world leaders act on diabetes now.”
IDF Officials’comments.
About World Diabetes Day
World Diabetes Day (WDD) is celebrated every year on November 14. The World Diabetes Day campaign is led by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and its member associations. It engages millions of people worldwide in diabetes advocacy and awareness. World Diabetes Day was created in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization in response to growing concerns about the escalating health threat that diabetes now poses. World Diabetes Day became an official United Nations Day in 2007, with the passage of United Nation Resolution 61/225. The campaign draws attention to issues of paramount importance to the diabetes world and keeps diabetes firmly in the public spotlight. This year sees the third of a five-year campaign that will address the growing need for diabetes education and prevention programmes.
www.worlddiabetesday.org
About the International Diabetes Federation (IDF)
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is an umbrella organization of over 200 national diabetes associations in over 160 countries. It represents the interests of the growing number of people with diabetes and those at risk. The Federation has been leading the global diabetes community since 1950. IDF’s mission is to promote diabetes care, prevention and a cure worldwide.
www.idf.org
WHY FOCUS THE BLUE CIRCLE?
The blue circle is the universal symbol for diabetes. Until 2006, therewas no global symbol for diabetes. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) holds all rights to the blue circle for diabetes. The purpose of the symbol is to give diabetes a common identity. It aims to:
■ Support all existing efforts to raise awareness about diabetes
■ Inspire new activities, bring diabetes to the attention of the general public
■ Brand diabetes
■ Provide a means to show support for the fight against diabetes.
The icon was developed originally for the campaign for a UN Resolution on diabetes. The United Nations passed Resolution 61/225 ‘World Diabetes Day’ on December 20th 2006.The circle occurs frequently in nature and has thus been widely employed since the dawn of humankind. The significance is overwhelmingly positive. Across cultures, the circle can symbolize life and health. Most significantly for the campaign, the circle symbolizes unity. Our combined strength is the key element that made this campaign so special. The global diabetes community came together to support a United Nations Resolution on diabetes and needs to remain united to make a difference. As we all know: to do nothing is no longer an option. The blue border of the circle reflects the colour of the sky and the flag of the United Nations. The United Nations is in itself a symbol of unity amongst nations and is the only organization that can signal to governments everywhere that it is time to fight diabetes and reverse the global trends that will impede economic development and cause so much suffering and premature death.
