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Azerbaijan marks the first observance of World Diabetes Day as a UN Day
The Azerbaijan Diabetes Society, the member of the International Diabetes Federation, with the support of the United Nations in Azerbaijan organised a series of events to mark the World Diabetes Day, this first U.N.-observed day in Azerbaijan. As part of these events, the First lady of Azerbaijan and the President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, agreed to join the International Diabetes Federation's initiative of lighting iconic buildings around the world in the United Nations colour of blue on the World Diabetes Day to demonstrate a commitment to fighting diabetes. Accordingly, the building of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation joined the 150 other landmarks of the world in being lit in blue throughout 13-15 November. The Azerbaijan Diabetes Society also organised a Press Conference at the International Press Centre on 12 November to inform the public on the rising prevalence of diabetes, emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis and education to reduce further complications and save lives. There has been extensive coverage highlighting these events in the local media. Additionally, 14 November became a real holiday for the children with diabetes when they were invited by the Azerbaijan Diabetes Society to the entertainment party together with their parents. The events culminated in a Conference dedicated to the World Diabetes Day, which took place at the Park Inn Hotel in Baku on 14 November. It brought together the members of civil society organisations, government representatives, Members of Parliament, health institutions, media, and the UN agencies to raise public awareness and attract the attention of all stakeholders to the burning issue of diabetes. The Conference was opened by Ms. Mominat Omarova, the President of the Azerbaijan Diabetes Society, with her welcoming remarks on this important day and its value as an occasion to remind the world of the devastating costs of this disease on the lives of families in the world, and also to promote people's solidarity with those who live with diabetes. She particularly emphasised the intrinsic role of governments, civil societies and international organisations in developing effective mechanisms to face the challenges standing in the way of tackling this issue. Having completed her opening remarks, Ms Omarova gave the floor to Mr. Bruno Pouezat, the UN Resident Co-ordinator in Azerbaijan. Drawing the attention to the Resolution adopted on 20 December 2006 recognising World Diabetes Days as a UN Day, Mr. Bruno Pouezat valued this moment as an opportunity to bring the world community together to raise awareness on the causes and consequences of diabetes on the lives of people and families, and to show solidarity with those who live with this disease. He appreciated the work of the Government of Republic of Azerbaijan, in particular the Ministry of Health in this direction, and expressed his special gratitude to the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and its President, Ms. Mehriban Aliyeva, for her very visible support in lighting the Foundation building in blue as a symbol of their generous support for the world diabetes campaign. "Blue is not only the colour of the United Nations, but also the colour of the global campaign against diabetes. Meanwhile, it is the colour of hope". Mr Pouezat thanked Ms Mominat Omarova and the members of the Azerbaijan Diabetes Society that she heads, for their dedication to increasing awareness, improving prevention and treatment of this disease and care to those with diabetes. Other speakers including Mr. Hadi Rajabli, the Head of the Permanent Commission on Social Policy of the Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan, underlined the commitment and hard work of civil society organisations in Azerbaijan in advocating for response on the side of both the general public and the government to various challenges including the diabetes.
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14 November 2007 marks the first observance of the World Diabetes Day by the United Nations with the recognition of diabetes as an enormous threat to global health, along with HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Resolution 61/225 adopted on 20 December 2006 designated this day as a United Nations Day to be observed every year effective of 2007.
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© United Nations Azerbaijan 2006 |
