The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) Africa Region are organising a joint satellite session, “Accelerating Diabetes Care in Africa: Unveiling the WHO Regional Framework for Implementing the Global Diabetes Compact“, during the NCD Alliance Global Forum in Kigali, Rwanda on 15 February.
The session will present the WHO Regional Framework for implementing the Global Diabetes Compact in Africa, a strategic plan for Member States to enhance diabetes prevention, early diagnosis, and comprehensive management, particularly at the primary healthcare level. It will also showcase success stories and experiences from countries that have begun implementing innovative diabetes care models.
The burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly diabetes, is rapidly increasing across the African continent. Diabetes has become a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in many African countries.
In response, the WHO Africa Region has endorsed the Framework for the Implementation of the Global Diabetes Compact in the African Region. This strategic plan aims to revolutionise diabetes prevention, early diagnosis and management across Africa, focusing on primary health care. By integrating diabetes care into existing health services, the framework seeks to avoid the pitfalls of past approaches that have often fallen short.
Estimates released by IDF in 2021 indicate diabetes affects approximately 24 million people in Africa and contributes to rising healthcare challenges. Furthermore, Africa is set to register the highest increase in the number of people with diabetes of all regions by 2045, with a 129% increase to 783 million. From prevalence and resource access to policy frameworks and healthcare infrastructure, diabetes care delivery in the region is confronted with myriad complexities.
The WHO framework contains a multi-pronged approach to combat the rise of diabetes in the Africa region:
- Strengthening health systems: integrating diabetes care at the primary healthcare level to resilience and ensure that no one is left behind.
- Universal health coverage: ensuring all Africans access essential diabetes care and medicines.
- Multi-sectoral collaboration: engaging governments, civil society, and the private sector in a united front against diabetes.
About the 4th Global NCD Alliance Forum 2024
The 2025 Global NCD Alliance Forum in Kigali, Rwanda on 13 – 15 February 2025, will unite and mobilise non-communicable disease (NCD) civil society to accelerate national, regional and global advocacy towards the 2025 UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs. Under the theme “Leadership on NCDs Towards 2025 & Beyond,” the forum will bring together 650 delegates from around the world.
