THE GLOBAL CAMPAIGN The Melbourne Declaration on Diabetes Adrian Sanders At the 2013 World Diabetes Congress in United Kingdom All-Party Parliamentary The priority of the group will be to build Melbourne, Australia, a declaration on Group for Diabetes (APPG Diabetes) and a coalition of diabetes advocates for ac- diabetes was agreed and signed by in- Chairman of the European Policy Action tion to tackle the pandemic at the local, vited parliamentarians representing 50 Network for Diabetes (ExPAND). I have regional, national and trans-national countries. The Melbourne Declaration on also lived with type 1 diabetes for a quar- level raising urgent diabetes awareness Diabetes was agreed at the first-ever Global ter of a century. in parliaments and assemblies across Parliamentary Champions for Diabetes Forum on the 2nd December 2013. The Declaration calls for urgent action to address the diabetes pandemic and our dedicated signatories pledge to work across parliaments to help prevent the incidence of diabetes, ensure early di- agnosis and improve the treatment of people with the condition The Global Parliamentary Champions for Diabetes Forum elected two Vice- Presidents, Dr. Rachael Nyamai MP (Kenya) and Simon Busuttil MP (Malta) and myself as the first President. My The First Lady of South Africa signing qualifications for this prestigious posi- the Melbourne Declaration on Diabetes tion include my work as Chairman of the 20 DiabetesVoice March 2014 • Volume 59 • Issue 1 THE GLOBAL CAMPAIGN the globe. This new grouping will fill medical professionals, pharmaceutical budgets and vote for policies. As the first a missing gap, and I am determined we companies, health ministers and patient global network of parliamentarians for a will do much more. There is a great deal groups but nothing for parliamentar- specific medical condition, we will create of cross-national communication among ians who can set the agenda, influence a platform to raise the profile of diabetes within governments across the world. Through the communication of ideas Objectives for 'Parliamentarians for Diabetes’ global network and best practice and the encouragement of action within parliaments around the 1. Exchange policy views and practical 4. Encourage all governments to ac- world we can move towards that tipping initiatives of relevance and to hear knowledge that diabetes is a national point where the allocation of resources from experts on opportunities for health priority that requires a compre- action and progress in the preven- hensive action plan leading to action. and effort to prevent, diagnose and treat diabetes is no longer questioned. tion and management of diabetes. To 5. Respond to and participate in relevant always strive for ‘best practice’, and debate and discussion on and related advocate for people with diabetes, to the World Health Assembly, World The urgency required cannot be over- their families and carers, and those at Health Organization, United Nations stated given the rising tide of diabetes risk and to become a powerful force and other appropriate organisations across all continents and countries rich internationally to respond in a co- or government bodies and specifically and poor. Already the scale of the chal- ordinated and focussed way to the to ensure the inclusion of diabetes lenge threatens the healthcare budgets diabetes pandemic and to promote and NCDs in the post-2015 develop- of most countries and the economies the diabetes cause. ment framework noting this frame- of many. 2. Provide parliamentarians with the work should be aligned with the goals opportunity to attend meetings or- and targets on diabetes agreed at the It is a great honour to be tasked with lead- ganised by the IDF and their Member WHA. Diabetes intersects all major ing this group and I am grateful for the Associations, aiming to improve health dimensions of global development, support and guidance of IDF through its outcomes for people with diabetes, stop including poverty reduction, gender President Sir Michael Hirst, his Co-Chair discrimination towards people with inequality, education, environmental behind the initiative, former Australian diabetes and prevent development of sustainability and infectious diseases. Senator, Guy Barnett, and the global co- type 2 diabetes. A special focus should 6. Confer honour and express gratitude ordinator for the forum, the Hon. Judi be the different regions of the globe to to those Members of Parliament sup- Moylan. This formidable team will be- ensure practical solutions are offered. porting the diabetes cause, wherever 3. Establish a platform for the dialogue they may be and to use our best en- come a positive force governments will between IDF Member Associations deavours to recruit other Members of not be able to ignore. and other stakeholders to exchange Parliament for this purpose. information and discuss special ar- 7. Create opportunities for networking eas of common interest. These will and building relationships between include prevention, workforce, costs Members of Parliament, other key of diabetes, access to medicines, and decision-makers, the IDF and its effective strategies to combat and Member Associations and others. Adrian Sanders manage the pandemic. To report To hold meetings in various regions back to ministers, parliamentarians Adrian Sanders is the Member of of the globe as agreed, and to meet Parliament for Torbay in Devon, UK. and other key decision-makers in our again as a Global Forum at the next home countries and to seek commit- World Diabetes Congress in 2015. To read the Melbourne Declaration ments to deliver on the targets set on Diabetes, please visit: 8. Appoint a global co-ordinator with ap- www.idf.org/sites/default/files/ at the 66 WHA in 2013. The global propriate administrative and manage- Melbourne_Declaration.pdf network will support the sharing of ment support to assist the global net- resources such as research, legislative work to achieve the above objectives. initiatives, prevention campaigns and joint initiatives relevant to the various regions of the globe. March 2014 • Volume 59 • Issue 1 DiabetesVoice 21.