The World Diabetes Foundation
The World Diabetes Foundation (WDF) is dedicated to supporting prevention and treatment of diabetes in the developing world through the funding of sustainable projects. The aim is to alleviate human suffering related to diabetes and its complications among those least able to withstand the burden of disease.
WDF was established by Novo Nordisk A/S in 2002 through a commitment of a maximum of 650 million Danish kroner to be spent over a 10-year period. In March 2008, the shareholders of Novo Nordisk A/S approved of an additional endowment of a maximum of DKK 575 million over another ten year-period, bringing the two endowments from Novo Nordisk A/S up to a total maximum of DKK 1.2 billion in the period 2001 - 2017, ie equivalent to USD 227 million (NN standard exch. rate 5.4).
In 2008, nearly half a million Danish kroner was donated by Novo Nordisk employees and raised through various fundraising activities, including the TakeAction! employee volunteer programme. These funds have been allocated to support WDF fundraising projects in the developing countries.
The WDF has funded 182 projects in 83 countries, focusing on awareness, education and capacity building at local, regional and global levels. The total project portfolio has reached USD 191.4 million of which USD 62.2 million were donated by the WDF. A projection based on achievements to date and milestones of ongoing projects indicate that the initiatives funded by the WDF will positively impact the lives of 66 million people across the developing world.
Impact indicators 2008
Diabetes screening, awareness camps and the establishment of clinics supported by the WDF bring diagnostic equipment and trained staff to detect not only diabetes but some of the most disastrous yet easily preventable and treatable complications, such as the diabetic foot, eye complications such as retinopathy, cataract and glaucoma that can lead to unnecessary blindness.
To date, more than 5,103,470 people have attended 4,427 screening camps, and 2,876,565 people have been screened for diabetes. More than 229,829 documented cases of people have been treated at the 754 established clinics funded by the Foundation.
Training health care professionals in proper screening and care of the diabetic foot and eye care is essential for preventing needless amputations and blindness. Presently, the WDF has supported the training of 14,433 doctors, 12,835 nurses and 27,852 paramedics.
In addition, more than 32,090 cases of diabetic retinopathy have been detected, and 21,991 eyes and 18,232 feet saved, thus rescuing thousands of people from certain disability and their families from lifelong indebtedness.
Advocating the need for action and awareness
In order to bring attention to the impact of diabetes on women’s health and convince governments, UN agencies, donors and non-governmental organisations to include gestational diabetes in their maternal and child health agendas, the WDF organised a meeting of leading global health experts at the UN headquarters in New York in April 2008 in cooperation with the Global Alliance for Women’s Health. The meeting concluded that pregnancy offers a great window of opportunity to provide maternal care services not only to reduce the traditionally known maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality indicators, but also for intergenerational prevention of several chronic diseases, such as diabetes, arterial hypertension, cardio-vascular diseases and strokes. High quality interventions related to maternal and child health services may result in far-reaching health and economic benefits.
Another successful advocacy initiative was the Diabetes Summit for South-East Asia in Chennai, India. In a region where more than 53 million people are currently living with the condition, the summit, organised by the WDF in cooperation with the World Health Organization, Regional Office for South-East Asia (WHO SEARO), the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Bank attracted more than 200 delegates from South-East Asia, leading global health experts, ministers of health, donors, non-governmental organisations, international media and national health authorities. During the summit, the Chennai Call for Action was approved by the attending organisations and unanimously endorsed by the summit participants.
The overall aim of the Chennai Call for Action is to try to increase attention, focus and allocation of resources to address the burden of chronic non-communicable diseases and to endorse and support a call for a UN General Assembly special session to discuss and include chronic non-communicable diseases in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and creation of a global fund for health to include both communicable and non-communicable diseases.
Global Diabetes Walk
A returning event on its fourth year was the Global Diabetes Walk on World Diabetes Day, 14 November. The Global Diabetes Walk organised by WDF mobilised 282,375 people in from 58 countries to walk together to help raise awareness about diabetes. Landmarks, public and private institutions were illuminated in the blue colour of the diabetes circle officially selected as the global symbol for diabetes to mark the second consecutive United Nations-observed World Diabetes Day. Included among the landmarks were many of the world's iconic buildings and sites.
Dining for a noble cause
On 26 November 2008, more than 200 prominent guests including two royal families; TRH the Crown Prince Couple of Denmark, and HRH Princess Soamsawali and HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabna of Thailand gathered at a charity dinner at the residence of the Danish Ambassador in Thailand, Mr. Michael Sternberg.
The charity dinner was a unique opportunity to combine the celebrations of 150 years of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Denmark, and illustrating the Danish business community’s support to the concept of corporate social responsibility. Each guest had paid a significant sum to dine and the funds raised were earmarked to support a mobile eye clinic in the Northern province of Thailand. On the same day, Thailand celebrated the World Diabetes Day.
The event was organised in cooperation with YWCA (Young Women’s Christian Association) of Bangkok, the Diabetes Association of Thailand, the WDF and Novo Nordisk A/S. Besides the Danish Crown Prince Couple, the guest list included the top of Thai society, including representation from the Thai Royal House, dignitaries, the Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Per Stig Møller, key opinion leaders, Danish companies, artists, and academia.
Profits from the sale of seats and corporate and individual sponsorships amounted to USD 25,569. An estimated additional USD 325,000-350,000 will be donated by the WDF. It is expected that the first steps to establish the mobile eye unit will be initiated in 2009.
For more information about WDF please visit www.worlddiabetesfoundation.org.
