WORLD INNOVATION SUMMIT FOR HEALTH SUPPORTS ARAB DIABETES MEDICAL CONGRESS TO HIGHLIGHT NEED FOR ACTION AND INNOVATION IN FIGHT AGAINST THE DISEASE
WISH Shares Global Report With Regional Leaders To Help Stem Rise In Diabetes
Doha, Qatar, 22 April 2015: The World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), a global initiative of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), is lending its support to the Arab Diabetes Medical Congress taking place in Doha, Qatar, on 23-25 April 2015.
Diabetes is a disease that is prevalent in the Gulf region, with the incidence as high as 12-18 per cent across the Middle East. According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), by 2035, the countries with the highest growth in diabetes prevalence will be the UAE, Oman and Qatar. Rates in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) as a whole will increase by 96.2 per cent by 2035. Meanwhile, treating the complications associated with diabetes can account for up to 11 per cent of healthcare spending.
Taking place in Oryx Rotana, Doha, the Arab Diabetes Medical Congress is organised by Maarefah Management in partnership with Qatar Diabetes Association and under the patronage of the Supreme Council of Health in Qatar. The Congress will bring together experts from the around the word to discuss preventative measures and improved treatment for tackling the increasing occurrence of diabetes in the Middle East.
Dr. Doaa Said, Managing Director of Maarefah, the organiser of the Arab Diabetes Congress, said: “Today, diabetes is a major and rising health concern in the GCC region and it is a devastating disease that poses severe risks and costs for the healthcare community, therefore it is important to gather the main stakeholders including health authorities, medical associations, diabetes experts and researchers to exchange knowledge and generate new ideas that will foster the advancement in prevention and control of diabetes in our countries.”
As part of the Congress, WISH will distribute its recently published report “Rising To The Challenge: Preventing and Managing Type 2 Diabetes” to all attendees; sharing recommendations and extensive research undertaken in the lead up to the recent WISH summit held in February in Qatar.
WISH’s participation underscores its commitment to inspire and diffuse healthcare innovation and best practice through a global network of high-level policymakers, academics and industry leaders. It remains closely aligned to the vision and mission of Qatar Foundation to unlock human potential and underscore Qatar’s pioneering role as an emerging centre for healthcare innovation.
Mr Egbert Schillings, CEO of WISH, said: “The Arab Diabetes Medical Congress is an essential conduit for thought-leaders, policy makers and healthcare experts to align and work together on addressing this huge health threat. Type 2 Diabetes is fast becoming a regional epidemic and we cannot underestimate the impact this disease will have on society, workforces and future generations.
“Our Diabetes report, which we are sharing with the attendees, provides recommendations for policymakers to more effectively prevent diabetes and to also ensure effective treatment for those with the illness. It is our hope that healthcare leaders from the region will adopt some of these recommendations for the benefit of their populations.”
To download the WISH Diabetes report or for more information about WISH, please visit wish.org.qa
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
For more information please contact:
Noha El Afify
WISH Communications Manager
nelafify@wish.org.qa
About the World Innovation Summit for Health:
The World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) is a global healthcare community dedicated to capturing and disseminating the best evidence-based ideas and practices. WISH is an initiative of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) and is under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, its Chairperson.
The inaugural WISH Summit took place in Doha in 2013 and convened more than 1,000 global healthcare leaders. Through international summits and a range of ongoing initiatives, WISH is creating a global community of leading innovators in healthcare policy, research and industry.
Together, they are harnessing the power of innovation to overcome the world’s most urgent healthcare challenges and inspire other stakeholders to action.
Qatar Foundation – Unlocking Human Potential
Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development is a private, non-profit organisation that is supporting Qatar on its journey from a carbon economy to knowledge economy by unlocking human potential for the benefit of not only Qatar, but the world. Qatar Foundation was co-founded in 1995 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Father Amir of Qatar, and Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, QF’s Chairperson.
QF carries out its mission through three strategic pillars: education, science and research, and community development. QF’s education pillar brings world-class universities to Qatar to help create an education sector in which young people can develop the attitudes and skills required for a knowledge economy. Meanwhile, its science and research pillar builds Qatar’s innovation and technology capacity by developing and commercialising solutions through key sciences. Finally, its community development pillar helps foster a progressive society while also enhancing cultural life, protecting Qatar’s heritage and addressing immediate social needs in the community.
For a complete list of QF’s initiatives and projects, visit http://www.qf.org.qa
For more information about Qatar Foundation please contact our press office at: pressoffice@qf.org.qa
About Maarefah Management:
Maarefah Management is a world-class events, training and association management company that works closely with government institutions, industry bodies and professional associations to help individual’s career development in order to grow and sustain successful businesses.
The company’s conferences and specialised training courses are developed by well experienced scientific committees who create up-to-date scientific and technical programs tackling current and critical industry issues.
