Tuesday, November 16, 2010

14 th of November: World Diabetes Day

Last Sunday the Christ the Redeemer was all illuminated in blue lights to celebrate de World Diabetes Day. The initiative had, with main target, to catch the people’s attention in order to raise awareness in preventing and treating correctly the illness that affects children, teenagers and elders all over the world. The date is celebrated on 14 November to mark the birthday of Frederick Banting who, along with Charles Best, in 1922 discovered a life-saving treatment for diabetes patients: the insulin. The World Health Organization (OMS/WHO) estimates that more than 220 million people worldwide have diabetes. This number is likely to more than double by 2030 without urgent intervention. Almost 80% of diabetes deaths occur in low and middle-income countries. The mission of the WHO Diabetes Programme is to prevent diabetes whenever possible and, where not possible, to minimize complications and maximize the quality of life.

No domingo passado, dia 14, o Cristo Redentor estava todo iluminado por uma luz azul para celebrar o Dia Mundial do Diabetes. Esta campanha teve, como principal alvo, chamar a atenção das pessoas em relação à prevenção e ao tratamento desta doença, que afeta crianças, adolescentes e idosos de todo o planeta. A data é em homenagem ao nascimento de Frederick Banting que, juntamente com Charles Best, em 1922 descobriu um tratamento salvador para os pacientes com diabetes: a insulina. A Organização Mundial de Saúde(OMS/WHO) estima que mais de 220 milhões de pessoas ao redor do mundo têm diabetes. Este número pode mais do que duplicar até 2030 se não houver uma intervenção urgente! Quase 80% das mortes por diabetes ocorrem em países subdesenvolvidos ou em desenvolvimento. A missão do Programa contra Diabetes da OMS/WHO é prevenir a doença sempre que possível, e, quando isto não for possível, minimizar as suas complicações e maximizar a qualidade de vida.
















3 comments:

J_on_tour said...

One of the important messages of our day. I work at the sharp edge of the British health service and see first hand some sad cases. Although unfortunately, education is the preventative medicine that sometimes people don't want to hear, we have to deal with what we are given. We have to salute whatever task and effort is being made to highlight the problem.
The statue looks great lit up by the way.... would love to photograph that.

Vania Moreira said...

Really J_on_tour? I thought that you worked with tourism! Yes, I agree with you: this is a delicate issue because many times the person doesn’t admit that he/she has a serious illness that needs to be properly treated! I have a friend, who acts like that, and it’s so sad and preoccupant for me…anyway, more information and prevention is the best and right thing to do!

Vania Moreira said...

By the way, the statue was marvelous all in blue! About 3 weeks ago it was all in pink especially for the breast cancer campaign. You know, it’s a creative idea to “wear” the statue in different colors – its natural one is white – to catch the people’s attention, because we can see the Christ the Redeemer from almost everywhere in our city!