The theme for today’s World Health Day 2016 is diabetes, a non-communicable disease (NCD) that is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and has a direct impact on over 400 million people globally.
The World Health Organisation has called for governments around the world to act to ensure people can make healthier food choices. The first World Health Organisation global report on diabetes, reveals there is a fourfold increase in global diabetes cases since 1980.
There are 422 million adults living with diabetes globally, mostly in low and middle income countries with limited access to treatment although the numbers are rising everywhere. That is 8.5% of the global adult population. In 1980, there were 108 million, which was 4.7%.
Beat Diabetes: the key facts
1. In developing countries type 2 diabetes is increasing faster in younger people and with worse outcomes than in wealthier countries.
2. A large proportion of diabetes cases are preventable.
3. Diabetes is treatable. Diabetes can be controlled and managed to prevent complications.
4. Efforts to prevent and treat diabetes will be crucial to achieving the global Sustainable Development Goal 3 target of reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including CVD, by one-third by 2030.
Download the campaign materials
WHO has developed posters, social media materials and a range of other collateral in six languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish).
To find out more about how to get involved on World Health Day, click here.
