On November 28, IDF Europe and WHO Europe organised a webinar to celebrate the one-year anniversary of their joint Declaration. The webinar brought together a range of stakeholders, including people living with diabetes (PwD), policymakers, national diabetes associations and healthcare professionals to review the progress achieved and the lessons learned over the past year as well as to explore future opportunities for impactful action.
In their opening remarks, WHO Europe Strategic Advisor on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and Innovation, Gauden Galea, and IDF Europe Regional Chair, Nebojša Lalić, celebrated the efforts of the diabetes community in generating momentum and fighting for keeping diabetes on the political agenda and called for even stronger action in the year to come to foster collaboration and drive a renewed and strong European programme of work on diabetes and other NCDs.
Diabetes Advocate, Erik Werson, stressed the critical need for the active involvement of PwD not only as full partners in their own care but also in shaping policies and research. By contributing with their lived experiences, they can highlight gaps in prevention and care and offer valuable insights into their needs and preferences.
Speakers from various European countries presented their advocacy work leveraging the Declaration at national level and initiatives aimed at measuring progress and accelerating action towards the Global Diabetes Targets.