*Event sees launch of national agenda for diabetes research and cardiovascular risk factors
The Diabetes Leadership Forum 2020 on Thursday witnessed the launch of the national agenda for diabetes research and cardiovascular risk factors, which were recently added to the National Diabetes Strategy 2016-2022 with a focus on the importance of a systematic approach to diabetes research and its key role in addressing the burden of diabetes in the coming decades.
The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and its partners organised the forum under the patronage of HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al-Thani.
The event was attended by HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari, other ministers, dignitaries, experts, academics and healthcare professionals from Qatar, the region and around the world.
The forum, organised for the second time, reviewed the progress that has been made since the launch of Qatar’s National Diabetes Strategy 2016-2022 and the Strategy Action Plan for the next two years.
Dr al-Kuwari affirmed that the forum, which brings together unique expertise from around the world, contributes to sharing experiences and enhancing capabilities to address diabetes, a major health challenge.
“The Ministry of Public Health and its partners are working closely through the National Diabetes Strategy to better address and manage the burden of the disease by creating a clear framework for the development of the necessary capacities and tools. The National Diabetes Research Agenda sets the appropriate scientific research priorities for Qatar in terms of environmental, cultural and social aspects to help identify the most effective methods to prevention and treatment,” she noted.
The forum was organised by the MoPH in collaboration with the Qatar Metabolic Institute (QMI), Hamad Medical Corp, Primary Health Care Corp and the Qatar Diabetes Association.
It included a number of keynote speakers from countries such as Australia, the UK, Oman and Kuwait, who shared their experiences regarding the diabetes strategy.
The event also featured panel sessions that highlighted the role of collaborative efforts of different sectors and community leaders in preventing diabetes.
Sheikh Dr Mohamed bin Hamad al-Thani, director of the Public Health Department at the MoPH, said: "We are very proud of the progress made in implementing the National Diabetes Strategy so far, and we look forward to addressing this problem and its serious repercussions."
“Prevention of diabetes requires the collaborative efforts of all government sectors, including education, environment, transportation, planning, economics. The wide participation of different groups of society is a cornerstone for the success of the prevention programme in Qatar," said Prof Abdul-Badi Abou Samra, co-chair of the National Diabetes Committee and director of QMI.
“Today, Qatari families are more familiar with diabetes and its risk factors and are better able to protect themselves, and this is just the beginning of a long journey,” added Dr Khuloud al-Mutawa, head of the Department of Non-Communicable Diseases at the MoPH and a member of the National Diabetes Committee.
