Priority Groups Targeted in New Aussie Diabetes Strategy
PDGN Patron, Hon Judi Moylan AO, is delighted that the national diabetes strategy, she and others helped to produce was released on WDD 21 by the Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt.
Its aim is to reduce the incidence and impacts of the disease among priority groups, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The groups also include people from South Asia, North Africa and the Middle East, Oceania and southern and eastern Europe.
Diabetes cases in Australia have skyrocketed in the past eight years, with around 1.9 million people currently diagnosed. More than 17,000 Australians died from diabetes-related illness over the past year, as another 120,000 were diagnosed with the disease.
It is hoped that the new national plan for tackling this crisis will help guide responses over the coming decade.
Diabetes Australia CEO Greg Johnson said: “As a nation, we’ve been very pre-occupied with the impact and risks of COVID – meanwhile the serious impacts of the growing diabetes epidemic have continued.”
Advocacy Action: Does your country have a national plan for diabetes? What are the blocs to adopting one where are? Others have experience with plans and might be able to help you.