World Diabetes Day is the primary global awareness campaign focusing on diabetes mellitus and is held on 14 November each year. The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention observed this day in connection with the 2020 theme “The Nurses and Diabetes,” launching the “Drive In” initiative and the “Diabetes Prevention Programme,” (‘Drive In’ initiative for diabetics launched on World Diabetes Day, “ Nov. 13, Gulf Today).

World Diabetes Day was launched in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organisation (WHO) in response to the rapid rise of diabetes around the world.

Since 2006, it has been among the official annual awareness campaigns of the World Health Organisation (WHO), the umbrella organisation of 240 national diabetes associations in 168 countries and territories. It spotlights the worrying rising rates of the preventable disease, among the accepted silent pandemics.

We appreciate the steps of the UAE health department. Dr Hussein AbdelRahman Al Rand said the two new schemes  include an “e-education service” for all nurses across the country. It is all part of the ministry’s continuing efforts “to provide innovative, preventive and therapeutic (approaches) to combat (NCDs) to reduce diabetes rates in the country and to highlight the effective role of the nursing staff in caring for patients and enabling them to control diabetes, reduce its complications and limit its spread.”

Dr Arvind Kumar
By email