Kampala diabetes summit calls for action

Aug 15, 2011

DIABETES and other non-communicable diseases are increasingly burdening East Africa; undermining health, social and economic development in the region as well as threatening the achievement of the millennium development goals.

DIABETES and other non-communicable diseases are increasingly burdening East Africa; undermining health, social and economic development in the region as well as threatening the achievement of the millennium development goals.

The revelation was made recently at the first East Africa Diabetes summit held in Kampala. It was noted that increasing vulnerability to the risk factors and underlying social determinants including poverty are some of the factors fuelling the disease.

In the East African Community, the linkage between non-communicable diseases, infectious diseases and maternal as well as newborn health are clear, as is the need for integrated approaches to prevention, diagnosis, treatment, care and education.

The summit emphasised that despite the evidence and availability of cost-effective solutions, these diseases have remained neglected in terms of attention and resource allocation on national, regional and global agenda.

For these reasons, the participants developed and endorsed a call for action with the aim to create a sense of urgency within the East African Community in responding to diabetes and non-communicable diseases.

The call for action mainly targets governments, civil society and the private sector within the region, as well as the international community.

Participants called for increased government funding for health to at least 15%, and urged donors to scale up their support and align aid to developing countries’ priorities, such as diabetes — a chronic, debilitating and costly disease associated with major complications that pose severe risks. The major threats posed by diabetes and related non-communicable diseases are cancer, cardiovascular disease and chronic respiratory disease.

State of diabetes

  • Over 300 million people are living with diabetes worldwide, and three out of four are in low and middle-income countries. Of the 36 million non-communicable disease deaths every year, 80% (28 million) occur in low and middle-income countries
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  • While diabetes and non-communicable diseases are increasing worldwide, Africa is predicted to see the greatest increase, with a 98% increase in its diabetes population over the next 20 years, and a 20% increase in non-commuincable deaths over the same time period
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  • The dual burden of infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases in East Africa is imposing a serious burden on the already vulnerable health systems and national economies

  • Gestational diabetes increases the risk of maternal mortality and complications, as well as increasing risk of type 2 diabetes in both mother and child later in life

  • Diabetes and other non-communicable diseases impact disproportionately on the poor and most vulnerable groups, such as women, children and older people.
  • Diabetes and other non-communicable diseases are a serious threat to the social and economic development of already resource-constrained countries in the region, causing high healthcare costs and resulting in lost productivity and decreased rates of economic growth
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  • The majority of diabetes and other non-communicable diseases can be prevented or significantly delayed. Risk factors are linked to unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, tobacco use and harmful use of alcohol.

  • The survival and optimum development of children with type 1 diabetes is dependent on daily injection(s) of insulin
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  • Strengthening health systems — including public health and health care delivery services — is essential to provide comprehensive prevention, screening, treatment, care and education for diabetes and other non-communicable diseases.

  • There is need to work collaboratively and partner with key multi-sectoral stakeholders including the private sector and civil society to advance the diabetes and non-communicable diseases agenda.

  • Establish a high accountability mechanism to monitor progress in delivering on the commitments.


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