Bill Clinton, founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation and former president of the US, with Dr Hanif Hassan, Minister of Health. Image Credit: Arshad Ali/Gulf New
Dubai: Former US President Bill Clinton on Sunday warned that the exciting developments in the region will be interrupted if the diabetes epidemic is not stopped.
Speaking at the Mena Diabetes Leadership Forum, Clinton called for an organised and sustained effort against the disease and to make it easier for people to change (their lifestyle). "This will reverse the trend," he said.
The former president, who is the Founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation, said diabetes was an "exploding human problem" and a "natural consequence of the upheaval of modern life".
"People really want to live. They are not anxious to shorten their lives," he said, adding that diabetes can be prevented if it is detected early and that people should make changes to the way they eat and exercise, and to their lifestyle.
"I am frightened to imagine what would happen if one third of the US population becomes diabetic [by 2015]," he said.
He said the incidence of diabetes increased exponentially when there was obesity among children. He called for strategies that offered healthy options for the young.
Dr Hanif Hassan, Minister of Health, said the picture was more dramatic and bleak in the Mena (Middle East and North Africa) region. Of the top 10 countries with the highest prevalence of diabetes, five were in the Mena region, he said.
He said UAE had the second highest prevalence with more than 19 per cent of the population being diabetic. "Diabetes robs people of the ability to realise their life potential," said the minister.
He warned that diabetes and related complications could consume 13 per cent of Mena health care budgets by the year 2025.
"This could cripple our governments and reduce our effectiveness in addressing other high priority health-related concerns," he said.
Dubai Declaration:
- Calls on Mena region to ensure that tackling diabetes and other non-communicable diseases remains the main priority.
- To focus on prevention and treatment of diabetes.
- Ensure integrated care for people with diabetes.
- Raise awareness and provide education to reduce risks of diabetes.
- Provide tailored care for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and newborns.
- Empower patients and promote dialogue with care providers.
