HISTORY AND CURRENT ACTIVITIES OF THE INTERNATIONAL-DIABETES-FEDERATION WESTERN-PACIFIC-REGION (IDF-WPR)

International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is one of the biggest non-gove rnmental organizations with its 44-year history since 1950. In 1993, 1 14 diabetes associations in 96 countries participated in the IDF. In 1 982, it was decided to divide the globe into seven regions and to prom ote the diagnosis, treatment, care and education of diabetes based on the environment, natural features, culture and race of the each region . On January 24, 1984, the IDF-WPR establishment meeting was held in M elbourne, Australia, with eight original member countries (Australia, New Zealand, Korea, The Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Fiji and Jap an). In 1993, 13 diabetes associations in 12 countries joined the IDF- WPR. New member associations are from China (Beijing and Taipei), Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. The IDF-WPR has been holding co ngresses and council meetings every 3 or 4 years since 1984 as well as formulating strategic action plans in the scientific, clinical, healt h care and education fields of diabetes.