Global Targets to Reduce Cases of Diabetes

Member States of the World Health Organisation have set country targets to tackle the occurrence of diabetes. The targets were set during the ongoing 75th World Health Assembly that took place in Geneva Switzerland. The targets are supposed to be achieved by 2030.

A total of five targets were agreed to. These include; 80 percent of people living with diabetes being diagnosed, 80 percent having control of glycaemia and 80 percent having good control of their blood pressure.

In addition, the targets call for 60 percent of people with diabetes aged 40 years and above to receive statins and 100 percent of all people with type one diabetes having access to affordable insulin and blood glucose self-monitoring equipment.

According to records from the World Health Organisation, diabetes is one of the top ten causes of death worldwide. An estimated 463 million people are living with the disease. However, the prevalence of the disease is expected to rise by 10.2 percent to approximately 578 million people by 2030 and to 700 million by 2045.

Advocacy Action: Has your country set targets? What is the plan to achieve them? Will you take note to ask some questions about this in future months to monitor whether targets are being met?