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Cape Town, South Africa, Thursday, December 7, 2006
I’m sure we all know someone living under the Sword of Damocles that is diabetes.
The strict diet; the monitoring of blood sugar levels and the injections; the constant fear of blindness or the possibility of amputation.
Diabetes diminishes the quality of life of millions of people around the world. And as you know very well, every year, diabetes is a contributing factor in the deaths of some 3 million around the world.
The work you are doing is more important than ever, given the worsening nature of this problem.
I learned recently that diabetes already affects more than 230 million around the world, and by 2025 that number is expected to grow to some 350 million. By that time, the number of cases here in Africa is expected to double. And in Canada, we have the problem of diabetes afflicting our Aboriginal populations in a very serious way.
In addition to the tragic human cost, this preventable disease also puts pressure on limited health care resources around the world.
As you know, the IDF has found that about 25 percent of the nations of the world have no specific plans for diabetes care in their national health systems.
And I was saddened to learn that here in sub-Saharan Africa, no country can ensure 100 percent access to insulin.
We who live in the wealthy societies of the planet must pool our resources to address this scourge.
I do want to salute you all for the work you are doing in this increasingly important area of public health.
I am confident that we can make inroads against this disease, and all of you will certainly be part of the long-term solution.
I would like to invite you all to Canada, the country where, in 1921, Banting and Best discovered insulin.
Of course, Canada will also be the host of the 20th World Diabetes Congress in Montreal, where you will have the opportunity to build on the results that will come out of this year’s meeting.
And so I close by asking you all to raise your glasses…
Please join me in toasting the 20th World Diabetes Congress… and let us also drink to the success of the men and women who will gather there, to discuss new and better ways of combating this devastating disease!
To success!