Access to Diabetes Care, If not now, when?

World Diabetes Day: Access to Diabetes Care, If not now, when?

by Berlin Kafoa

November 14th is World Diabetes Day, promoted every year in response to the increasing threats to health and sustainable development due to diabetes, experienced globally and in our home, the Pacific region.

Globally there are approximately 463 million adults living with diabetes and it is expected to reach 578 million by 2030.  The Pacific region is no different as some countries are among the top 10 with the highest rate of diabetes in the world with over 30% in some countries. Coupled with this, climate change and COVID-19 increase comorbidities among people with diabetes and posing a critical threat to health and sustainable development in the Pacific region.

The theme for World Diabetes Day 2021 - 2023 is Access to Diabetes Care: If Not Now, When?  People with diabetes require ongoing care and support to manage their condition and avoid complications.  Essential components of diabetes care include access to medications, access to healthy food and safe place to exercise, access to self-monitoring and access to education and psychological support. Diabetes complications prevalence are indicators of poor diabetes care and in the Pacific, rates are substantial with up to 69% retinopathy and approximately 11% limb amputation.

The Pacific Community’s (SPC) Public Health Division is currently supporting an Integrated Diabetes Care project with Fiji, Kiribati, Niue, and Tonga and this will gradually extend to other countries.  The objective of this project is to improve the quality, accessibility, and effectiveness of diabetes care at the primary health care level through improved system of care, upskilled workforce and upgraded facilities.  Furthermore, there are resources to strengthen diabetes education and management, including the Pacific Healthy Dietary Guidelines for people with diabetes and a diabetes education package for health workers.

At SPC we are strong advocates for empowering and strengthening of efforts at regional and national level to prevent and control diabetes through improved accessibility to optimal diabetes care, possible, and calls on governments to invest in diabetes care and prevention.

 

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Author(s)

Dr Berlin Kafoa

Director, Public Health Division (Noumea)

Dr Berlin Kafoa has over 20 years of experience in the health sector, at national, regional and international level. He holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of the South Pacific as well as a Master of Public Health from the University of New South Wales. He is one of the very few Pacific public health physicians who is a Fellow of Public Health from the Royal College of Physicians in the United Kingdom. His research and publications focussed on injury prevention, medical workforce and medical education.

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