International Diabetes Federation Elects New Leadership to Address Global Diabetes Epidemic
October 18 2009 - 6:45PM
Marketwired
The International Diabetes Federation is proud to welcome Professor
Jean Claude Mbanya of Cameroon as its new President at the close of
the IDF 20th World Diabetes Congress on October 22. He will lead
the Federation for the next 3 years. IDF is delighted to announce
that Sir Michael Hirst of the United Kingdom was voted
President-Elect today the IDF General Council that is made up of
more than 200 IDF Member Associations from over 160 countries. Sir
Michael will take over from President Mbanya in 2012.
Jean Claude Mbanya is Professor of Endocrinology at the
University of Yaounde, Cameroon and Chief of the Endocrinology and
Metabolic Diseases Unit at the Hospital Central in Yaounde. He was
instrumental in the IDF-led 'Unite for Diabetes' campaign, which
led to passage of the United Nations Day Resolution on Diabetes in
December 2006. He now steers IDF strategic direction to encourage
governments to implement policies for the treatment, care and
prevention of diabetes.
Professor Mbanya's research focuses on cultural diabetes-related
factors, which are often unique to the African countries and
communities he studies. His practice and research have largely
contributed to increase the world's awareness on diabetes in
Africa, a continent where non-contagious diseases such as diabetes
are too often overlooked.
He takes charge at a time when diabetes and other
non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are exacting a severe global toll,
with most of the burden falling in the developing world. Diabetes,
cardiovascular disease, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases
cause 60% of all deaths worldwide, with four in every five of these
deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Diabetes
contributes significantly to the NCD burden. Over 250 million
people live with diabetes worldwide.
"The challenge ahead is to put diabetes care within the reach of
all people living with diabetes. It is my hope that my time as
President of the Federation will see an increase in spending on
global health, with a major shift in funding for diabetes and
non-communicable diseases. We have to act together to ensure that
accidents of geography and history do not determine who should live
or die," said Professor Mbanya.
Sir Michael Hirst has served as a Vice-President of IDF since
2006 and as co-Chair of the IDF TIDES programme, which addresses
diabetes care in emergency situations. He became interested in
diabetes over twenty years ago when his youngest child was
diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at a very young age.
Then a Member of the British Parliament, Sir Michael championed
the cause of diabetes in Parliament, as a result of which he was
co-opted to the Board of Trustees of the British Diabetic
Association, now Diabetes UK. There he served as a trustee in a
variety of capacities for 17 years, most recently as the first
non-medical Chairman of the Board of Trustees from 2001-2006. As
Chairman, he oversaw major changes in the operations and governance
of Diabetes UK, Europe's largest organization for people with
diabetes.
Sir Michael Hirst is a graduate in law of the University of
Glasgow and was an exchange student at the University of Iceland.
He later qualified as a chartered accountant and became a partner
in KPMG, the international accounting firm, until he entered the
British Parliament. Sir Michael held a number of senior positions
in frontline politics until 1997 and was knighted for political and
public service in 1992. He has also served on the board of a number
of leading charities and public bodies, and is currently Chairman
of two companies in the UK.
"I am deeply touched by the honour bestowed upon me by IDF's
member associations. I look forward to the opportunity to continue
the work of the Federation. I will serve my apprenticeship under an
inspiring leader and expect to learn a great deal over the next
three years. There is a huge job to be done for people with
diabetes and it will require a united global effort to improve
their lives. It will be a challenge, but one that I shall relish.
My retirement has been postponed," said Hirst.
Note to Editors:
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is an umbrella
organization of over 200 member associations in more than 160
countries, representing over 250 million people with diabetes,
their families, and their healthcare providers. The mission of IDF
is to promote diabetes care, prevention and a cure worldwide. Its
main activities include education for people with diabetes and
healthcare professionals, public awareness campaigns and the
promotion and exchange of information. IDF is a non-governmental
organization in official relations with WHO and associated to the
United Nations' Department of Public Information. IDF organizes the
World Diabetes Congress every two years. For more information,
please visit www.idf.org.
Contacts: International Diabetes Federation Kerrita McClaughlyn
- Media Relations Manager Mobile: +32 487-530-625 or IDF Press Room
(Montreal): +1 514-789-3407 and +1 514-789-3409 media@idf.org
www.idf.org