Under the patronage of HE Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani, the Ministry of Public Health and its partners organized the Diabetes Leadership Forum 2020, in the presence of Her Excellency Dr. Hanan Mohammed Al Kuwari, Minister of Public Health and a number of their excellencies ministers, and a group of senior experts, academics and healthcare professionals from around the world, as well as senior healthcare officials and their partners from Qatar and other countries in the region.

The forum, which is organized 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.

The forum witnessed the launch of the National Agenda for Diabetes Research and cardiovascular risk factors, which were recently added to the strategy with a focus on the importance of systematic approach of diabetes research and its key role in addressing the burden of diabetes in the coming decades.

HE Dr. Hanan 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, which is a major health challenge.

Her Excellency said: "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."

The Diabetes Leadership Forum was organized by the MOPH in collaboration with the Qatar Metabolic Institute (QMI), which focuses on diabetes, Hamad Medical Corporation, Primary Health Care Corporation, and the Qatar Diabetes Association.

The Diabetes Leadership Forum included a number of keynote speakers from different countries in the world, such as Australia, the United Kingdom, the Sultanate of Oman and the State of Kuwait, who shared their experiences regarding the diabetes strategy, in addition to the panel sessions that highlighted the role of collaborative efforts of different sectors and community leaders in preventing diabetes.

In his opening speech, Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Thani, Director of the Public Health Department at the Ministry of Public Health 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."

In turn Co-chair of the National Diabetes Committee and Director of the Qatar Metabolic Institute at the Hamad Medical Corporation, Professor Abdul-Badi Abou Samra stated, "The responsibility for treating diabetes lies with health care institutions. As for the prevention of diabetes, it requires collaborative efforts of all government sectors including education, the environment, transportation, planning, economics, etc. The wide participation of different groups of society is a cornerstone for the success of the prevention program in Qatar."

Head of the Department of Non-Communicable Diseases at the Ministry of Public Health and member of the National Diabetes Committee Dr. Khuloud Al Mutawa lauded the significant progress in achieving the goals of the National Diabetes Strategy, including achieving the objectives of awareness and prevention campaigns, and public education initiatives with regard to tests, among others. She said: "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.

Source: Qatar News Agency/Image: Hamad Medical Corporation

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