THE WHO NATIONAL DIABETES PROGRAM INITIATIVE

Epidemiological studies indicate that diabetes is a highly prevalent d isease, with developing countries and minority populations now facing the highest risk. This places a strain on the health authorities, and consequently, has attracted increasing attention from the World Health Organization (WHO). The social and economic burden of diabetes is hig h, due to the seriousness of the complications of the disease. Many of these complications may be delayed or prevented, offering considerabl e opportunities for both reduction in costs to the authorities and imp rovements in quality of life for those affected. Following a resolutio n on the prevention and control of diabetes, adopted by the Forty-seco nd World Health Assembly in 1989, the WHO diabetes programme prepared guidelines for the development of national diabetes programmes. Goals, targets and supporting materials have also been developed at the regi onal level by the WHO Regional Offices for Europe and for the Eastern Mediterranean. In 1994, WHO organized a meeting on the implementation of national diabetes programmes at its headquarters in Geneva. There w ere 70 participants and 32 countries were represented. The purposes of the meeting were to exchange information, motivate, consider evaluati on, stimulate new programmes, define educational needs and prepare a w ritten report. WHO Flays a major role in the development of national d iabetes programmes. In co-operation, WHO Headquarters and Regional Off ices can act as clearing houses/information centres for data collectio n, programme monitoring and evaluation and the exchange of experience and technical information. The national diabetes programme initiative should result in improvements in diabetes control and care worldwide.